LONDON - Novak Djokovic's calendar Grand Slam dream on track to win the Wimbledon men's singles title on Sunday after beating the brilliant Matteo Berrettini 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 on center court is. .
Having already won the Australian Open and French Open, Djokovic dropped just two sets in a fortnight to clinch his sixth Wimbledon title, and his 20th Grand Slam, a feat that joins him with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic didn't have it all his own way against a first-time Grand Slam finalist, but Djokovic's persistence, experience and consistency helped him overtake Berrettini and manage the Italian power game.
Here's how Djokovic won the men's singles title at Wimbledon.
This is only the second time Djokovic has lost a set at Wimbledon.
The crucial game for Djokovic came 5-2, and the Serbian had a break and set point on Berrettini's serve. The Italian held on to force Deuce, and in eighth place he eventually got his third win on the board. From there he broke Djokovic and later dominated the tiebreak 7-4. Djokovic was giving Berrettini chances, but Djokovic's Italian count of 20 unforced errors in 10 meant he left chances on the grass.
But the set gave Djokovic a chance to fine-tune his game plan by keeping the ball close to Berrettini's body or preventing him from using his jackhammer forehand and shifting it around the court. This allowed him to gain accurate insight into Berrettini's serve, which he first broke in the fourth game - something Hubert Herkaz failed to do in his semifinals.
Timing Berrettini's Serve and Timely Braking
Berrettini's acclaimed service produced the stuff as they took off the first set, achieving it with 138 mph, but it was still unbelievable. His serve was working in the first set with just 56% of his first serve, and although it increased to 61% in the second, it gave Djokovic a 61% win on Berrettini's second serve (Berretini, in turn. ) won just 47% over Djokovic's second). This allowed Djokovic to punish Berrettini with two breaks at the start of the second, preventing Berrettini from gaining any momentum from his first-set victory. He also managed to make it 2-1 in the third, putting Berrettini on the backfoot.
Djokovic then went on his serve - broken once in the first and second - by swirling Berettini around center court, playing these clean, cut backhands into the corners and forcing the Italian to stretch and strain. Although he covered more ground per point (22.2 m) than Berrettini (21.1), Djokovic's game management paid dividends at crucial moments as he won 36% of the break points over Berrettini's 29%.
Djokovic's experience shining on center court allowed himself to enjoy an exchange of twinner shots at 5-2 in the second, and although he broke through in the next game, he pulled it off. It was the sixth time Djokovic lost a first-set tiebreak in a major final, but he now holds the record for four wins from those six matches. So whatever situation he's in, he knows how to pull himself out of it - just like he did at this year's French Open.
Djokovic looked a little off his best in the first and second, where his experience extended to handling the atmosphere. Berrettini had a lot of support on center court - with some prompting "It's coming Rome!" But there was still healthy support for the defending champions -- as a play on the biennial England football song, with their fans chanting "Novak, Novak!" "Ma-tet-o, ma-tet-o!" In response to the offering. And despite Berrettini's raucous reception to win the first set, Djokovic's mental strength and ability to focus paid dividends.
He emphasized that point in the third set as he tapped the side of his head after breaking Berettini 2-1. Later, when the umpire is called "Ma-tae-o!" had to intervene to quell the slogan. Upon Djokovic's service, he gave approval on the order "Calm down please". And then came the moment of the match in arguably the fourth, as the umpire had to suppress spells for Berrettini with the Italian 30-0 on Djokovic's serve, only for Djokovic to square things off to 30-30 with the most notable stretch Winner after an incredible rally. He responded by raising his finger in the air of Wimbledon, as if to say, remember who is No. 1 on this court. Djokovic led that game 3-3 and it gave him the launchpad to break Berettini in the next game with a combination of a beautiful crosscourt forehand and then a double fault.
Falling on the right side of the net
Djokovic managed the net far better, winning 71% points there compared to Berrettini's 62%. In crucial moments, as two break points were at 3–2 in Berrettini's third, Djokovic twice forced Berrettini to hit the winners as he covered the net, only for the Italian to take both out. . Djokovic may have noticed Berrettini's reluctance to serve/volley even once at Wimbledon before the final, and although Berrettini had some neat shots over the net - Djokovic lauded a pleasant effort in the fourth game of the second - Djokovic used it to great advantage, volleying home over the net to eventually take his second of three championship points.
Djokovic has shamelessly targeted Grand Slams, and with good reason. There may never be a natural solution to the GOAT debate, as it is subjective, but at Grand Slams alone, Djokovic, Nadal and Federer are now all locked on 20. His ability to manage these finals is unmatched. She is now 12-0 in the Grand Slam final after she took a 2-1 lead in fourth place. That experience is worth its weight in the Grand Slam. He also made his way into this final, making 10 unforced errors in the first set, just four in the second and then three in the third. Djokovic now heads to the US Open and is looking to become the sixth player to achieve a calendar Grand Slam in men's singles. His off-court preparation and his ever-increasing experience combined with his mantra of living in the moment has made him a formidable champion.