After letting slip the first set, five-time Novak Djokovic bounced back to level the Wimbledon final against seventh seed Matteo Berrettini 6-7(4), 6-4 after one hour and 53 minutes.
Djokovic, the World No. 1, is trying to win his 20th Grand Slam title, which would tie Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s all-time men's singles record. The 34-year-old is also pursuing the Calendar-Year Grand Slam, and a victory today would give him his third major trophy of the season. No man has won the season’s first three Grand Slams since Rod Laver claimed all four in 1969.
Berrettini is going for national history. Already the first Italian to make the final at The Championships, he is trying to become the first man from his country to claim Grand Slam glory since Adriano Panatta triumphed at Roland Garros in 1976. The only other Italian man in history to win a major was Nicola Pietrangeli, who emerged victorious in Paris in 1959 and 1960.
Match Stats - Djokovic vs Berrettini (Through 2nd Set)
| Stat | Novak Djokovic | Matteo Berrettini |
| Aces | 3 | 7 |
| 1st-Serve Pts Won | 81% (34/42) | 71% (40/56) |
| 2nd-Serve Pts Won | 48% (12/25) | 41% (17/41) |
| Break Pts Converted | 30% (3/10) | 40% (2/5) |
| Net Pts Won | 74% (20/27) | 65% (17/26) |
| Winners | 18 | 29 |
| Unforced Errors | 14 | 29 |
Djokovic got off to a slow serving start, hitting three double faults in his first two service games to put himself into trouble. But Berrettini could not capitalise, failing to put a forehand return into play on a break point in his first return game.
The top seed took full advantage when he found his rhythm at 2-1. The five-time Wimbledon champion converted his second break point of the match with tremendous depth off a defensive open-stance backhand, a shot that Berrettini was unable to handle. The Serbian's inability to secure a second break at 5-2 — when he held a set point, but could not manage a forehand — proved costly.
The seventh seed, who misfired from the baseline early on, found his rhythm and began taking control of baseline rallies. Berrettini battled hard to get back on serve and then used his forehand power to take the lead in the tie-break, finishing the 70-minute set off with his fourth ace.
But Djokovic fired back with a vengeance in the second set. He significantly raised his level, removing the loose mistakes from his game by making just unforced errors in the set.
The 19-time major winner broke Berrettini's serve twice to take a greater lead. And he needed that breathing room, as Berrettini fought hard to earn one break back and battle from 0/40 at 3-5. But Djokovic was able to remain calm and hold to love to win the set, quietly pumping his fist when the Italian missed a forehand return.
This is the pair’s third ATP Head2Head clash. Djokovic leads their series 2-0, including a four-set win in this year’s Roland Garros quarter-finals.
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ReplyDeleteI am reaching out to hopefully spark an article or book some tennis insider may wish to write regarding the death of men’s tennis in the USA and the effect it has on the game.
I first proposed this subject 15 years ago to the then president of the USTA, I believe his last name was Johnson.
In the letter I stated unequivocally that the USA will never have another men’s number one player in the world due to the unfavorable conditions created by the NCAA and the primarily the USTA.
I will once again will restate what is quickly becoming fact “The USA will never have another number one player in the world. Ever!!!!
Djokovic just won hi 20th slam.
Great for him he is a good player and deserves the titles. However he did it in the era of USA absence. That is like removing the Soviet Union and Canada form Olympic Hockey leaving the Gold to the perennial second placers.
I have researched this subject from every angel and spoken with fellow tennis coaches from around the world. The absence of Americans in the world tennis mix has put an asterisk next to every record since 2006.
The reasons for this are numerous and is a subject of much speculation that all dance around the conclusion. The USTA, whether by mistake or design, killed the men’s game in the USA.
For any tennis insider who may want to write a book, the real story behind the death of men's tennis in the USA is one I would read.
Thank you for your time
David Riggs