Wimbledon 2021 Men's Final, Novak Djokovic vs Matteo Berrettini Live. (AP)Wimbledon 2021 Men’s Singles Final, Novak Djokovic vs Matteo Berrettini Tennis Live Score Updates: Novak Djokovic will face Matteo Berrettini in the Wimbledon final with a chance to win a record-tying 20th major. The top-seed’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 final could be Berrettini’s massive serves against Djokovic’s best-in-the-business returns.
This will be Djokovic’s chance to win the Wimbledon title for the third time in a row. The 34-year-old has won five Wimbledon titles so far. Only Roger Federer, William Renshaw, and Pete Sampras have won more Wimbledon titles than him. Djokovic reached the final with wins in straight sets against Denis Shapovalov whereas Berrettini took four sets to beat Hubert Hurkacz.
Berrettini has the wind in his sails right now! He races to 30-0 with a trademark ace in the mix. Djokovic bites back with a pinpoint forehand return. 30-15. He continues his toil to make it to deuce! And he rebounds in style! He wins the next two points and breaks!
Djokovic serves first in the tiebreak but it's all Berrettini now. He takes the first three points... and Djokovic, he's showing a bit of nerves right now. He responds with his forehand to make it 3-1.. and then two more times to be level on 3-3. But Berrettini rides on the crests and takes a 5-3 lead but soon after, he overhits a return. 5-4. He wins another and seals the set with a bullet of a serve!
Berrettini serves to save the first set and he wins the first point. But after some lapse of concentration, Djokovic takes the lead and makes it 30-15. The Italian replies brilliantly with a serve-and-volley point. Like any other game, it makes its way to deuce too. But the Italian roars finally, what a fight back this has been! He wins two back-to-back points, last one owing to an unforced error.
Berrettini is aiming for a spectacular comeback in the first set itself. But after winning three back-to-back games, he is pegged back a bit by Djokovic's serve. The Serb makes him run around the court, racing to four consecutive points. He holds to love.
Djokovic serves for the first set but Berrettini takes the first point with a cross-court forehand return. The Italian hits the net on a dropshot and an unforced error on his backhand. 30-15. Berrettini survives the rally and makes a pinpoint return to restore parity. He takes the lead but Djokovic brings it to deuce with his forehand. But Berrettini breaks! He seals it with a brilliant lofted forehand!
Djokovic seals his service game easily and aims to take the first set. His peak athleticism helps him get to 15-30 in Berrettini's serve, but the Italian comes up with an ace next. Another good serve from him but he hits the net on his forehand return. Deuce. Both the players get advantages during eight straight deuces but they both fail to deliver the killer blow. But Berrettini holds finally!
After Djokovic held his serve to love, Berrettini fights back to put pressure on the top seed. He gets the first point but Djokovic makes it 15-15. But the Italian brings in some serve and volley play and takes the game from 40-30. The first set is not over yet!
Djokovic nullifies Berrettini's serve and makes it 30-30. The Serb forces his opponent to play long by coming closer to the net and it's 30-40. The Italian turns it into deuce. Djokovic gets one with the forehand and then his backhand return helps him break!
Uncharacteristically, Djokovic continues with his out-of-sorts serves. He gifts the first two points to his opponent with double faults but he gets one back to make it 15-30. But Djokovic sprints to the next three points, hitting an ace and then an unreturnable service.
Berrettini begins in the usual fashion with his powerful serve. 15-0. He races to the next point but a wayward return makes it 30-15. He combines his big serve with a smash to take the next point and then forces Djokovic to overhit his serve-return in the next.
Djokovic serves first in the final and after a double fault, Berrettini opens his account. The Italian hits the net on the return next to make it 15-15. After exchanging blows, it makes it to deuce owing to some shaky starts. Djokovic loses the advantage once because of some weak first serves, but he seals the deal in the end owing to the seventh-seed's sub-par return.
Marija Cicak, a 43-year-old from Croatia, is going to officiate the Wimbledon men's singles final between Novak Djokovic and Matteo Berrettin. It's the first time in the history of the 144-year-old tournament that a female chair umpire will grace the occasion.
Cicak is a gold badge chair umpire and a member of the WTA Elite Team since 2012.
The players are now making their way on to the court. After some warming-up, the toss will take place.
Novak Djokovic: "He's in great form. He's serving big, playing big. So it's going to be a very tough match. I'm looking forward to a great battle. Berrettini is kind of an underdog. People also like to see someone win who is an underdog or is not maybe expected to win, is not the favourite to win. But hopefully people can also recognise the importance of this match for me."
Matteo Berrettini: "My first final in Wimbledon, it's just crazy to think about it. I think I never dreamed about this because it was too much for a dream. Obviously, for Italian people in general, it's going to be tough Sunday. But I think we deserve it. I think it's going to be a special Sunday for all of us. I'm really happy that together with football, tennis is now one of the biggest sports in Italy."
Djokovic leads 2-0
Previous meetings:
2021: Djokovic def. Berrettini 6-3 6-2 6-7(5) 7-5 French Open, clay
2019: Djokovic def. Berrettini 6-2 6-1 ATP Finals, hard
Aces: 63 101
Fastest serve speed: 125 mph 139 mph
Double faults: 17 12
First-serve points won: 85% 82%
Winners: 190 254