LONDON: Novak Djokovic won a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam title and sixth Wimbledon on Sunday with a four-set victory over Italian slugger Matteo Berrettini with rival superstar Roger Federer hailing the achievement as a “wonderful performance.”
The world number one triumphed 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 to move level on 20 majors with Federer and Rafael Nadal.
His win also put him three-quarters of the way to the first calendar Grand Slam of all four majors since 1969.
“I could definitely envisage that happening and I hope I will give it a shot. I’m in great form and played well and having my best form at Grand Slams is my number one priority,” said Djokovic.
A sixth victory at the All England Club for Djokovic, who was playing in his 30th final at the Slams, added to his nine Australian Opens, two Roland Garros titles as well as three at the US Open.
Should he win a fourth title in New York in September, he will become just the third man in history after Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) to complete the calendar Grand Slam.
“It was more than a battle. He is a true Italian hammer I felt it on my skin,” said Djokovic of Berrettini.
Of sharing the record with Federer and Nadal, he said: “It means none of us three will stop. Roger and Rafa are legends, they are the reason I am where I am today.
“They showed me what I needed to do to get stronger, physically, tactically and mentally. Over the last 10 years it has been an incredible journey that’s not stopping here.”
Federer — who bowed out in the quarter-finals while Nadal did not play — tweeted his congratulations.
“Congrats Novak on your 20th major,” said Federer, an eight-time champion at Wimbledon.
“I’m proud to have the opportunity to play in a special era of tennis champions. Wonderful performance, well done.”
Djokovic also now has 85 career titles while he has become the first man to break the $150 million prize money barrier.
A gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics could give him the first ever Golden Grand Slam by a male player.
“Novak is a great champion, he is writing history on this court,” said Berrettini.
Djokovic overcame a nervy start to break for 3-1, which he stretched to 5-2.
He even had a set point in a marathon eighth game which the Italian saved after eight deuces.
Reinvigorated, he broke Djokovic when he served for the set and then dominated the tiebreaker which he sealed with his fourth ace of the contest.
The top seed stormed to a 5-1 lead in the second set on the back of a double break.
Berrettini, bidding to be Italy’s first men’s Grand Slam winner since Adriano Panatta at the 1976 French Open, clawed his way back to 4-5, saving three set points, but Djokovic this time served it out for a set apiece.
Djokovic struck first again for a 2-1 lead in the third set and fought off three break points in the sixth game, a show of defiance which brought watching Hollywood star Tom Cruise to his feet.
That was Berrettini’s last chance of the set as Djokovic served it out in the 10th game.
A weary Berrettini then served up a double fault on break point to hand Djokovic a 4-3 lead in the fourth set.
Djokovic kept coming, sprinting from the back of the court to pull off a wondrous pick-up and he held on for 5-3.
Berrettini, hoping to be Italy’s first singles champion at Wimbledon, saved two championship points in the eighth game.
But he was powerless on the third as Djokovic swept to his place in history.
“It is not the end, it is the beginning for me,” said Berrettini.
“Without my family, friends and team all this would not have been possible so I just say Grazie Grazie.”
Djokovic wins record-equalling 20th Grand Slam and sixth Wimbledon title
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Djokovic wins record-equalling 20th Grand Slam and sixth Wimbledon title
- Serb joins legends Nadal and Federer on most grand slams won
Al-Qadsiah hand Al-Ittihad second consecutive defeat as Al-Hilal extend lead at SPL summit
- Tense encounter at Prince Mohammed bin Fahad Stadium in Dammam ends in 2-1 victory for Al-Qadsiah
- Al-Hilal restore seven-point lead at the top of the table after 3-1 victory over Al-Fayha
DAMMAM: Al-Qadsiah defeated Al-Ittihad 2-1 in the Saudi Pro League Matchday 17's headline fixture, as Julián Quiñones netted twice to cancel out Karim Benzema's opener.
The battle of the tacticians was on full display between Al-Qadsiah and Al-Ittihad. Brendan Rodgers set his side up in a 4-3-2-1 defensively, with Christopher Bonsu Baah, Musab Al-Juwayr and Quiñones given the freedom to drift between the lines.
In possession, the shape transformed. While Baah operated a left-sided central midfielder in the trio, he frequently stretched the pitch down the left as Al-Juwayr, Quiñones and Nahitan Nández threatened Al-Ittihad between the lines.
Meanwhile, Sérgio Conceição set up his side quite differently. Reeling from a home defeat to Al-Ettifaq in their previous outing, Al-Ittihad emerged in a 3-4-2-1, with Moussa Diaby and the returning Houssem Aouar operating behind Benzema.
Aouar — absent since representing Algeria at AFCON — was inches away from netting on his return to the starting XI. In the 17th minute, he snuck in behind the defence to meet a floated cross from Danilo Pereira, only for his header to strike the post.
Nine minutes later, Al-Ittihad took the lead. After a VAR review, the referee deemed Gaston Alvarez’s challenge on Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti to be a penalty, and Benzema powered his effort down the middle to open the scoring.
Al-Qadsiah did not back down. Baah and Al-Juwayr combined down the left before the former’s low cross found Quiñones in the six-yard box, allowing him to equalise.
Al-Ittihad continued to struggle down that flank, and in the 59th minute, Mohammed Abou Al-Shamat dribbled past their midfield before threading a through ball to Quiñones who turned and fired Al-Qadsiah into the lead.
VAR was called into action once in the 64th minute for a potential Al-Ittihad penalty. Aouar's cross struck Jehad Thekri’s knee before bouncing up towards his hand, but the referee waved play on.
It wasn't Al-Ittihad’s best day, as they failed to find an equaliser despite their late pressure and slipped to sixth place on 27 points, nine behind Al-Qadsiah, who leap into fourth.
In Riyadh, Al-Hilal cruised to victory to extend their lead at the top of the table in a 4-1 victory over Al-Fayha. The visitors took the lead after a mistake from Al-Hilal goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Rubaie was pounced on by Fashion Sakala in the 14th minute.
The hosts responded emphatically before the break. Sergej Milinković-Savić scored a spectacular bicycle kick reminiscent of Ayoub El-Kaabi in the 37th minute, before Orlando Mosquera bundled the ball into his own net on the stroke of half-time.
Rúben Neves’ range of passing was once again a deciding factor for Al-Hilal. In the 61st minute, he delivered a floating cross towards Mohammed Kanno, who rose highest to head in the third. Neves was involved again for the fourth, as his free-kick found Marcos Leonardo to seal a commanding victory.
Elsewhere, Al-Taawoun slipped out of the top four after being held to a 2-2 draw by Al-Hazem in Qassim. Roger Martínez climbed to the top two in the goalscoring charts, with his brace rescuing a point for Al-Taawoun and taking his tally to 14 goals.
The Saudi Pro League returns for Matchday 18 on Saturday, with Al-Khaleej vs. Al-Shabab kicking off at 4:25pm, followed by Al-Kholood vs. Al-Ettifaq at 6:20pm before NEOM host Al-Ahli at 8:30pm.
