Wimbledon 2021: "History is at stake" for Novak Djokovic
In his hunt for a record, the insatiableNovak Djokovic is only one victory away from the long-awaited milestone. But Matteo Berretini could be dangerous for him in the Wimbledon final - London is already a good place for Italians these days.
by SID
last edit: Jul 10, 2021, 01:45 pm
With all these crazy number games even Novak Djokovic is amazed. Another record here, a possible Golden Slam there - that could look "surreal", the tennis dominator from Serbia admitted, but that is exactly his "huge inspiration". But the number 20 shines on the horizon as the ultimate goal in his hunt for records. And this long-awaited milestone is within your grasp in the Wimbledon final.
Because if he wins on Sunday (3 p.m. CEST / Sky) against the Italian Matteo Berrettini, Djokovic can win his 20th Grand Slam title - then the 34-year-old would finally be on a par with his eternal rival Roger Federer on paper and Rafael Nadal. "That would mean everything to me," said the world number one after moving into his seventh Wimbledon final: "That's why I'm here, that's why I play."
Djokovic has already had numerous pages in all tennis history books for a long time. But that is not enough - he wants to go down in history as the best ever, he had emphasized that many times. And on Sunday he could already do what no one has done for over five decades.
Djokovic could get the Golden Slam
He would be only the fifth man ever to win the title, the first since the legendary Rod Laver in 1969, who won the first three major tournaments of the year. It was also the Australian who was the last to complete the Grand Slam, the perfect year with all four big titles. With the Olympic victory in Tokyo, Djokovic could even win the Golden Slam, which Steffi Graf only managed in 1988.
For a long time it was unimaginable that such great moments would repeat. But Djokovic suddenly makes reaching for the stars look easy. He hopes that on Sunday the crowd on Center Court will "recognize the importance of this match for me, that history is at stake".
Because Djokovic also knows that the English like to keep up with the underdog - and that is without a doubt Berrettini. While the Serb is contesting his 30th Grand Slam final and triumphing on the "holy turf" for the third time in a row, for the sixth time in total, it is the Roman's first ever appearance in a major final.
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"It's crazy to even think about it," said the 25-year-old, who became the first Italian to reach the Wimbledon final. With his crashing serve and massive forehand, he brings the perfect weapons with him on grass - Djokovic also knows that this is very dangerous. "He's probably the one who was in the best shape on grass this year," said the defending champion: "He's really hot."
Big day for Italy
As a debutant, Berrettini won the traditional preparatory tournament at the Queen's Club - Boris Becker was last successful in 1985. It is known where his journey ended three weeks later. Berrettini has already won eleven in a row on grass, and with his twelfth he wants to ring in an Italian holiday in London.
"It's going to be a tough Sunday, isn't it?" He joked, because after his Wimbledon final, a few kilometers away in Wembley Stadium, Italy's footballers are playing against England for the European Championship. And their national coach Roberto Mancini announced on Twitter: "On Sunday everyone will be in Wimbledon and Wembley with their hearts!" Either way, it's going to be a big day for the history books.
Here the single tableau in Wimbledon
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