Wimbledon Day 11: Berrettini sets up final date with Djokovic

Both players had faced each other in the French Open quarterfinals.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic defeated Denis Shapovalov to reach the men’s singles final of Wimbledon 2021. Djokovic won in straight sets 7-6, 7-5, 7-5 to reach his 30th career Grand Slam final.

The defending champion is on a 19-match winning run at Wimbledon, dating back to 2018. Shapovalov, on the other hand, was eyeing a maiden final appearance with Novak Djokovic, having been second-best in each of their six previous meetings. The 22-year-old was always going to be up against it. However, the Canadian did start brightly. Djokovic came back from a break down to clinch the first set.

Shapovalov's backhand was a sight to behold. He gave Djokovic another good fight in the second set. But, once again the Serb's experience saw him over the line. In the third set, the Serbian came roaring back when it seemed like the match would go to a fourth set. Ultimately, the 34-year-old will be happy to get the match done in straight sets, ahead of what should be his toughest challenge so far in Sunday's final.

Djokovic is now just one match away from a sixth Wimbledon title. More importantly, he is a win away from equalling Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's record of most Grand Slam titles (20).

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History making Italian

In the other match, Italian Matteo Berrettini overcame Hubert Hurkacz of Poland 6-3, 6-0, 6-7, 6-4. Hurkacz crumbled under pressure in the first two sets, in front of a capacity 15,000 crowd. The All England Club's Centre Court crowd included the likes of David Beckham, Boris Becker, Jurgen Klinsmann, Frank Lampard, Daniel Ricciardo and many other eminent personalities.

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However, it was Berrettini who held his nerve and rose to the occasion. The Italian became the first player in history – man or woman – from his country to reach the singles final at Wimbledon after an emphatic victory. The seventh seed did not lose his serve across all four sets and saved both of the breakpoints that he faced. Berrettini blasted 60 winners, including 22 aces, as he powered his way to his first Grand Slam final.

The 25-year-old has had a strong grass-court season. He has already clinched the Serbia Open title and the Queen's Club Championships. Berrettini will now be hoping to add the biggest feather of them all. He will face a familiar opponent, Novak Djokovic, who he had faced last month in the Roland Garros quarter-finals. Berrettini did give a decent account of himself on that occasion but went onto lose 3-6, 2-6, 7-6, 5-7.

The Italian will be hoping that things will be different in Sunday's final. Infact, Berrettini has the opportunity to become Italy's first men's Grand Slam champion since Adriano Panatta at the 1976 French Open.  

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