Wimbledon 2021 Men's Singles Final Highlights: Novak Djokovic vs Matteo Berrettini.Wimbledon 2021 Men’s Singles Final Highlights: Novak Djokovic beat seventh seed Matteo Berrettini 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday to win his sixth title at Wimbledon. His third straight triumph at the All England Club also earned him a 20th Grand Slam title, equalling the men’s record haul held by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Having also won the Australian Open and the French Open titles in 2021, Djokovic has now completed the third leg towards achieving the Golden Slam. No man has ever won the four slams and an Olympic gold in the same year. The 34-year-old, who came into the title clash having beaten Berrettini in both of their previous meetings, fell short in the first set in the tiebreak. But he shifted gears in the following three sets, beating the first-time finalist on his experience and class.
After Djokovic held his serve, Berrettini serves to save the championship. He begins with a confident forehand but soon after, he hits the net on the return. 15-15. Both of them exchange a few blows before Djokovic takes the lead at 30-40. But Berrettini serves with all his might, forcing the top seed to run across court just to fail. Deuce! Djokovic wins the advantage on the second deuce after a short rally, and then, he wins it! What a moment! 20 Grand Slams for the Serbian! Sixth Wimbledon title for the superstar!
What a final we're witnessing here! Djokovic pops out of the blue at 30-15 to take an all-important break in the fourth set! He pegs Berrettini back with his backhand returns and wins the points with his forehands. Djokovic is just two games away...
Berrettini has some momentum now. He takes the first point quickly and then he beats Djokovic to a net play. But Djokovic bites back with his first serve to make it 15-30. Then, Djokovic astounds everyone at the Centre Court, getting a cross-court point on the slide. Berrettini laughs, the crowd applauds, simply brilliant! 30-30. He then wraps the next two points and lets out a roar!
After two pretty straightforward service games from the two finalists, Berrettini continues in the same fashion. 30-0. But he fails to understand the pace of a Djokovic sliced backhand, hits the net. A dropshot and an unreturnable serve later, he holds.
Djokovic starts the fourth set with a bit of serve-and-volley! The crowd's excitement leads to the cancellation of the first point but he makes it 15-0 soon after. His concentration level drops as he scuffs a dropshot. 30-30. But he doesn't mess around, holds easily.
Berrettini tries to remain calm under pressure as he takes the first point. Djokovic fights back to make it 15-15 but Berrettini races to make it 40-15. Fist bumps galore! Despite conceding another point, he wraps the game owing to a wayward Djokovic return.
Berrettini hits it long! Almost smashes his racquet in frustration. Another forehand error from him. Djokovic 30-0. On his second serve, Djoker then throws the court wide open with a wide serve. Goran Ivanisevic on his feet! 2 match points, one of which the Serb squanders. What a terrible forehand error from the Berretini to finish the 3rd set. Djokovic wins the set and goes up by a set.
Both players hold serve again. Berrettini continues holding on in the 3rd set. Djokovic to serve for it now though.
The Romans have taken over England today, haven't they!
Boris Becker is reading this blog! He just said the atmosphere is like in a football match. The chair umpire has to warn the crowd several times to pipe down as they rally (did I say rally? I meant clamour!) behind Berrettini. He takes Djokovic to deuce (again!), much to the crowd's excitement, but the Serb manages to hold out again. What a service game by the Italian! He's playing like a 1000 men!. Holds his service game at love.
Berrettini gets to deuce on Djokovic's serve but again the Serb manages to shut the door just as the Italian threatens to push it open. 'MA-TE-O-' the crowd seems more suited to Wembley than the Centre Court - maybe a few of these Azzuris will be heading to the football stadium, who knows - but their encouragement is enough for Berrettini to hold his serve.
Both players hold their service games without much trouble. The crowd chants 'Ma-Te-O' as the Italian prepares for his second service game of the set. And he starts with a double fault! And it's Djokovic who takes the first break of the set!
Djokovic doesn't succumb to pressure after all. He doesn't make much fuss, holds to love and takes the second set.
Djokovic brings his best-in-the-business returns into play as he sprints quickly to make it 0-30. Two backhand returns catches Berrettini off-guard. Djokovic gains three set points but the Italian underdog saves three of them in epic fashion! From deuce, Berrettini saves his serve with an ace in the mix. Will Djokovic succumb to pressure yet again? Crucial games up next...
Djokovic serves for the second set and gets the first point. But he turns out-of-sync in the middle as Berrettini races to 15-40 owing to some brilliant confident forehand-backhand play. Djokovic makes it 30-40 but the Italian gets his first break of the set soon after!
A late fightback from Berrettini now! Djokovic is now finding it difficult to breach the Italian's barrier. Berrettini composes himself a bit and brings back his play from the first set and holds after conceding just a single point. The Serb will serve for the set next...
Berrettini amps his game to find his way back in the second set. He exchanges some blows with the in-form Djokovic right now, but the Serb still makes it 30-30. But the first-time finalist holds finally after notching up two straight points. Still a long way to go...
Centre Court is witnessing a massive swing in momentum! Out of nowhere, Djokovic has found some second wind in him and he's showing his class right now. He holds, then breaks again after some toil, and then holds again to love. Second set done already?
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!