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.
Novak Djokovic and Matteo Berrettini
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.
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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. Only Federer, with 31, has appeared in more championship matches at the majors but the fading Swiss star is more than five years older.
“It would mean everything. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I’m playing,” said Djokovic who has already captured a ninth Australian Open and second French Open in 2021.
The victory in Paris made him just the third man to win all four majors more than once. “I imagined myself being in a position to fight for another Grand Slam trophy prior to coming to London. I put myself in a very good position. Anything is possible in the finals. Obviously, experience is on my side.”
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Djokovic needed all that experience and famed iron will to see off Denis Shapovalov in the semi-finals where he saved 10 of 11 break points. Shapovalov was so distraught at the failure of his all-out assault that had pushed Djokovic to the brink that he left Centre Court in tears.
“There is no holding back once you step out on the court, particularly in the later stages of an event that I always dreamt of winning,” said Djokovic after a 20th successive grass court win.
“The dream keeps going. I am trying to take out the maximum of my own abilities every single match and see what happens. Giving up is never an option.”
Berrettini, the 25-year-old World No. 9, is the first Italian ever to make a singles final at Wimbledon. Victory will make him Italy’s first male Slam champion since Adriano Panatta at the 1976 French Open.
Cicak to be first woman umpire in men’s final
Marija Cicak, 43, will make history on Sunday when she becomes the first woman to umpire a Wimbledon men’s singles final. The All England Club confirmed that the Croatian will oversee Sunday’s clash between Novak Djokovic and Matteo Barrettini. Cicak officiated at the 2014 Wimbledon women’s final between Petra Kvitova and Eugenie Bouchard as well as the 2017 women’s doubles final.
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