Novak Djokovic equalizes Wimbledon final against Matteo Berrettini | ATP circuit

After letting go of the first set, five-time Novak Djokovic rebounded to tie the Wimbledon final against seventh seed Matteo Berrettini 6-7 (4), 6-4 after an hour and 53 minutes.

World number 1 Djokovic is trying to win his 20th Grand Slam title, which would equal Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s all-time men’s singles record. The 34-year-old is also chasing the Grand Slam of the calendar year, and a win today would give him his third major trophy of the season. No man has won the first three Grand Slam tournaments of the season since Rod Laver won all four in 1969.

Berrettini goes for national history. Already the first Italian to qualify for the final of the Championships, he is trying to become the first man from his country to win Grand Slam glory since Adriano Panatta triumphed at Roland Garros in 1976. The only other Italian in the world. he story to have won a major tournament was Nicola Pietrangeli, winner in Paris in 1959 and 1960.

Match Statistics – Djokovic vs Berrettini (until 2nd set)

Djokovic got off to a slow start on serve, scoring three double faults in his first two service games to get in trouble. But Berrettini was unable to capitalize, failing to put into play a forehand return on a break point in his first return match.

The seed took full advantage when he found his rhythm at 2-1. The five-time Wimbledon champion converted his second break point of the game with tremendous depth on a defensive backhand in open position, a shot Berrettini couldn’t handle. The Serbian’s inability to secure a second break at 5-2 – when he held a set point but couldn’t handle a forehand – proved costly.

The seventh seed, who missed the baseline early on, found his rhythm and began to take control of the base rally. Berrettini fought back to return to serve, then used his forehand power to take the lead in the tie-break, finishing the 70-minute start with his fourth ace.

But Djokovic retaliated with vengeance in the second set. He increased his level considerably, removing cowardly mistakes from his game by committing just four unforced errors in the set.

The 19-time major winner broke Berrettini’s serve twice to take a bigger lead. And he needed that respite, as Berrettini fought to win a break and fight 0/40 to 3-5. But Djokovic was able to stay calm and hold on to enjoy winning the set, quietly pumping his fist when the Italian missed a forehand return.

This is the pair’s third ATP Head2Head clash. Djokovic leads his series 2-0, including a four-set victory in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros this year. The world No.1 is on a 20-game winning streak on turf, and Berrettini, winner of this year’s cinch championships, is on an 11-game winning streak on the surface.