Wimbledon 2021 LIVE, men’s singles final: Novak Djokovic up double break in second set
Djokovic #Djokovic
20:55 (IST)
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 3-1 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Djokovic leaves door ajar for Berrettini to try and pass him. Not the best approaches and Matteo has plenty of time, lots of court available to smack a winner and bring the game to deuce. Djokovic with soft hands as he moves up to bring up game point again. Holds with a big and an unreturnable serve
20:49 (IST)
Djokovic* 6-7, 6-4, 2-1 Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Berrettini withstands pressure to overturn a 0-30 deficit to make it 30-30 with a resounding smash. At 30-30, he has Djokovic rushing to the backhand side, Berrettini moves up for the volley but the half volley attempt is into the net. Break point for Novak. Berrettini tries to slice his way to safety – it has worked for the two weeks and a bit today, too. But not this time. Djokovic clenches his fist, points at his head and his box is up in applause!
20:45 (IST)
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 1-1 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Comfortable holds for both players at the start of the third set. ‘Mat-teo’, ‘Mat-teo’ chants ring around Centre Court. His girlfriend Alja Tomljanovic is in attendance. She had made the quarters in the women’s singles draw (lost to eventual champion Ashleigh Barty)
20:41 (IST)
WHAT. A. SHOT!
20:38 (IST)
Second set stats
20:35 (IST)
2nd set: Novak Djokovic 6-3
Novak Djokovic makes it one set all. He started this set better with an early break. And then made it a double break. Was broken while serving for the set but got the job done on the second opportunity.
20:33 (IST)
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Djokovic serving for the set once again. A good start this time around. An ace down the T to make it 30-0. Sees Berrettini miss a serve return and that’s three set points. Once again, Berrettini tries to divert the serve return into the corner but it is into the tramlines.
20:30 (IST)
Djokovic* 6-7, 5-4 Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Djokovic pinging the lines. Touching the absolute depth of the court. First with a winner and then in forcing Berrettini to come up with something special. Berrettini’s backhand slice only finds the net. At 0-30, the crowd are jubilant once again at the end of a remarkable point. Djokovic with exceptional hands once again and Berrettini’s running forehand is into the net. Three break points and two saved with Djokovic erring. The second almost took Matteo’s head off! Berrettini with HUGE serves to save another break point and then twice more to hold. What a hold from 0-40 down. Djokovic, however, still has one break in hand
20:26 (IST)
Djokovic 6-7, 5-3 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Serving for the second set, Djokovic with couple of misses and Berrettini has two break points (15-40). Saves one with a well played drop shot that Berrettini gets to but doesn’t pull off. On the second, Berrettini with a low return on big serve, Djokovic looks to serve and volley, gets the half volley in for a drop shot but the Italian is up and running quickly for a winner. Uses his wrist at the last moment to flick for a winner and a BREAK!
20:22 (IST)
Djokovic* 6-7, 5-2 Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Berrettini holds serve at love. The crowd is up together to applaud Djokovic chasing down a drop shot, lobbing Berrettini and then Matteo with a tweener lob (!!) into the corner. Djokovic tries to get his body in place for the return but finds the net. Smile from both players as crowd raises the decibel level!
20:18 (IST)
Djokovic 6-7, 5-1 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
After a comfortable hold for Matteo, Djokovic serving to do much of the same. Good start with the serve on and then on 30-0 with a perfect volley sandwiched in between. Gets the game prolong but holds comfortably regardless
20:11 (IST)
Djokovic 6-7, 4-0 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
A love hold for Novak and this point being re-emphasised. Even if the Big 3 give an inch, it feels smaller to players on the other side.
20:09 (IST)
From the archives
20:07 (IST)
Djokovic* 6-7, 3-0 Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Djokovic with a comfortable hold and has a break point chance on the Berrettini serve. An opportunity to make it 3-0. But Matteo holds firm, flat forehands side-to-side before ekeing out an error to bring the game to deuce. Djokovic does bit of the same and Berrettini tries to slice over the highest part of the net and is unable to do so. On second break point, neat approach from Berrettini, a tough volley next but he keeps his racquet head steady for a perfect drop volley. On deuce, a slice, a shot that has been very useful for the Italian throughout the fortnight, finds the net. On third break point, Djokovic sees Berrettini hit the net on the forehand and is now 3-0 up in the second set in a jiffy.
19:58 (IST)
Djokovic* 6-7, 1-0 Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Welp! Berrettini with a shank into the net. Tries to move into the backhand but only finds the net. Break point chance for Djokovic and it seemed inevitable, didn’t it? Novak chases a drop shot and then reads Berrettini’s attempted pass for a volley winner. BREAK!
19:56 (IST)
Stat for the Matteo Berrettini fans (and Federer, Nadal by extension today): Djokovic is 6-7 when losing the first set in a Grand Slam final
19:54 (IST)
First set stats summary: Just the six winners from Djokovic. Wow!
19:52 (IST)
1st set: Matteo Berrettini 7-6 (4)
Matteo Berrettini reverses a 2-5 deficit to win the opening set in the tiebreak. A rarity for Djokovic to lose a tiebreak. The Italian getting the job done with a HUGE 138mph ace down the T!
19:50 (IST)
1st set tiebreak
3-4: Berrettini with a big serve and a forehand winner for a 1-2 punch
3-5: Djokovic with a short-ish ball and Berrettini moves up for a forehand winner. Huge winner that!
4-5: Matteo tries to replicate that strategy, on the same wing, almost a replay, but this time he sends it long.
4-6: Berrettini with great wheels to chase down a drop shot, guides the ball into the corner, sends it deep and Djokovic’s desperate attempt at getting it back only finds the net
4-7: Set point Berrettini. ACE!
19:46 (IST)
1st set tiebreak
0-2: Comfortable start for Berrettini on serve and then sees Djokovic miss on the backhand for his 10th unforced error.
0-3: Djokovic misses the return of serve and Berrettini is up and running in the tiebreak
1-3: Djokovic not going away. Big serve and finds the sideline on the forehand. Berrettini tries his best to stay in it but far too much ground to cover
2-3: Another strong serve from Novak and the return goes long
3-3: Three straight points for Novak now to bring parity. Berrettini tries to go for a forehand winner down the line but thunders the tape
19:41 (IST)
Djokovic 6-6 Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Berrettini gets pushed to deuce but finds the sideline much to Djokovic’s surprise for a winner and brings up game point. Forces Djokovic into an error on the next point and we’re into the tiebreak!
19:38 (IST)
This is pretty great!
19:34 (IST)
Djokovic* 5-5 Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Berrettini holds at 15 and brings the first set level. Meanwhile, jaw-drop at Djokovic’s second serve speeds.
19:29 (IST)
Djokovic 5-4 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Djokovic tries to go for too much on the forehand angle and it lands wide. Berrettini with a chance to break but Novak saves with a forehand winner into the corner. This time Djokovic misses with the forehand, hits the top of the net. Second break point of the game. BREAK! Breathtaking point with both players scrambling but it is Berrettini who moves forward to pick up a drop shot for a winner. That was right in the corner!
19:23 (IST)
Djokovic* 5-3 Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Berrettini serving to stay in this set. Starts off by missing a smash, hits it flush into the net. His dad has head in his hands (he mostly does, to be fair). Berrettini tries to mix things up by volleying and Djokovic moves up with a running backhand and the Italian’s outstretched volley doesn’t come back. Does bang in a cracker of an ace next. Followed by an unreturnable serve. Another mistake from Berrettini and this game goes on. On deuce, Djokovic with a tough sliding forehand that Berrettini has to stay low and get it over for a passing winner. Unfortunately for him, it goes wide and there’s a break chance for Novak. Saved! Berrettini with two big serves to save a break point and now to bring up game point of his own. Chances come and go for Berrettini to hold. Error count continues to rise. Theme of the game: serve big on deuce court, make a miss on the ad court. Sixth deuce. Make that seven as Berrettini fails to read a ball getting the baseline. Probably expected it to go long but it stays in. Berrettini fighting with a thumping forehand in the corner and smashing the next ball. And then, expectedly, an error. 7th deuce. FINALLY Berrettini holds. Smash is not returned and the crowd applauds loudly. That was a battling hold!
19:10 (IST)
Djokovic 5-2 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Djokovic drops a point and holds. Tried to go for a drop shot and missed. Flawless otherwise. Even serving-and-volleying now.
19:06 (IST)
Djokovic* 4-2 Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Berrettini tries to pump himself to stage a comeback, crowd gets behind him as Djokovic’s groundstroke goes long. Hold for Berrettini
19:05 (IST)
Boy’s singles champion is Samir Banerjee of the USA. He wins 7-5, 6-3 in an all American final
19:03 (IST)
Djokovic 4-1 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
And now a surprise love hold for Djokovic. Surprise considering the previous two serves. And he’s up 4-1 when it should well or could well have been a good lead for Berretini. Novak has hit 3 double faults, 5 unforced errors & only produced three winners in total
19:00 (IST)
Djokovic* 3-1 Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Berrettini serve under the pump now. He saves one break point with a big booming serve. Djokovic smacks a forehand winner to create another chance. Djokovic with a deep backhand, Berrettini looks to change direction but the forehand goes wide. BREAK! That should calm some nerves for Djokovic and those in his box.
18:53 (IST)
Djokovic 2-1 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Djokovic chucks a third double fault in just his second service game. 0-30 and it should well have become 0-40 as Berrettini sends his backhand into the net while moving up for a relatively simple ball. Djokovic with an 81mph serve to make it 30-30 with Berrettini erring on his forehand. Novak follows it up with an ace out wide. And then another strong, flat serve down the T to see the ball not come back.
18:50 (IST)
Djokovic* 1-1 Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Now Berrettini showing bit of nerves. Finds the net couple of times and is pushed to 30-30. But holds with some big hitting and on Djokovic’s return on serve going long
18:45 (IST)
Djokovic 1-0 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Djokovic gets the Championship match underway…. with a double fault. And then a shaky forehand that is wide. At 30-30, he throws in another double fault. Confused looks inside the Novak Djokovic box. 20th anniversary of Goran Ivanesevic’s historic triumph and he would love to see Djokovic replicate that success. Saves break point with a serve down the T and Berrettini’s return is wide. Some uncharacteristic mistakes by Djokovic already. Nerves? Do the ‘Big Three’ feel nerves? Berrettini with couple of errors and Djokovic holds.
18:41 (IST)
Big day for Italy… if you haven’t noticed.
18:39 (IST)
Indian cricket team’s coach Ravi Shastri is courtside for the final
18:36 (IST)
What both men are after when the last point is played?
18:34 (IST)
Matteo Berrettini wins the toss and opts to receive. Marija Cicak is the chair umpire for the men’s final.
18:21 (IST)
Novak Djokovic’s quest for 20th Slam faces Matteo Berrettini test in final
Novak Djokovic admits “it will mean everything” to capture a sixth Wimbledon title and record-equalling 20th Grand Slam on Sunday but he will have to overcome Matteo Berrettini, the Italian slugger with the build of a heavyweight boxer.
Djokovic will move level with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on career majors with victory and also go three-quarters of the way to the first calendar Slam in more than half a century.
The 34-year-old is in his seventh Wimbledon final and 30th at the Slams.
Click here to read more of the preview of tonight’s final!
18:18 (IST)
Matteo Berrettini’s path to the Wimbledon final:
18:16 (IST)
Novak Djokovic’s path to the Wimbledon final:
17:49 (IST)
Novak Djokovic has a 2-0 lead when it comes to head-to-head
17:26 (IST)
Hello and welcome to our coverage of the Wimbledon men’s final!
No matter what happens this evening, we’re in for a special night. If Novak Djokovic wins, he will go level with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20 Grand Slams, and if Matteo Berrettini were to win, men’s tennis would have a new Grand Slam champion. Stay tuned, as we bring you all the latest updates and the live score from what should be a thrilling contest!
Preview: Novak Djokovic will face Matteo Berrettini in the Wimbledon final with a chance to win a record-tying 20th Grand Slam title.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal share that men’s mark.
The top-seeded Djokovic’s 30th major final will be the seventh-seeded Berrettini’s first — and the first at any major for any man from Italy since Adriano Panatta won the 1976 French Open.
The key to the title match could be Berrettini’s massive serves against Djokovic’s best-in-the-business returns. It also could come down to how Berrettini handles the occasion.
Djokovic recalls not having enough self-belief when he lost his first major final to Federer at the 2007 U.S. Open. Berrettini remembers being wowed by Wimbledon when he played in the junior event as a teenager.
“For me, it was just absurd. I asked myself, ‘Who knows if one day I’ll return and play in the main tournament, even just in qualifying? I have no idea.’ And now I’m in the final,” he said with a laugh. And then the 25-year-old added: “So it’s all a bit strange. But what’s beautiful … is that I’m much more aware of what I can do now. I know I can do this, because I’m here.”
He has won 11 matches in a row, all on grass courts, since losing to Djokovic in the French Open quarter-finals on clay last month.
Djokovic enters Sunday with winning streaks of 20 matches at Wimbledon, dating to 2018, and 20 matches at Grand Slam tournaments this year.
With inputs from AP.