(Wimbledon) Three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic qualified for the Wimbledon final on Friday by beating Briton Cameron Norrie (12e world) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 and will try to win his seventh title on the London lawn.
Posted at 1:40 p.m.
“I’ve played a lot of Grand Slam semi-finals, but it’s never easy to get on the court. There is huge pressure, personal and outside expectations,” commented the Serbian, noh 3rd in the world, emphasizing that his opponent “had nothing to lose”.
At 35, Djokovic will face Australian Nick Kyrgios (40e) who benefited from the withdrawal of Rafael Nadal the day before their semi-final. The Serb will aim for his 21e Grand Slam title to return to a length of Nadal’s record (22).
By winning his match against Norrie, Djokovic wrote a new page of statistics in his sport.
This final will be his eighth at Wimbledon, and only eight-time winner Roger Federer has done better (12).
He will play his 32e final in 68 Grand Slam tournaments played. He thus takes the record with a final better than Federer (31). And he equals Martina Navratilova to find herself one length behind Serena Williams (33) and two behind Chris Evert’s all-time record (34).
By beating Norrie, Djokovic also signed his 85e victory in the major London tournament. Again, only Federer did better (105).
And he’s unbeaten at Wimbledon since dropping out in the quarter-finals in 2017 with 27 straight wins. Only Pete Sampras (31), Roger Federer (40) and Björn borg (41) did better.
Moreover, he will be aiming for his fourth consecutive Wimbledon title, like Sampras. Borg and Federer lined up five.
At 26 and for his first Grand Slam semi-final, Norrie didn’t seem to feel any particular pressure.
“I didn’t start the game well, he was the best in the first set,” admitted Djokovic.
Norrie thus took Djokovic’s service from the start and even if, this time, the Serb picked up, immediately after, the Briton lined up five games in a row to pocket the first set.
But in the second set, at 4-3 for Djokovic, Norrie made a big mistake on a high backhand volley. The Serb felt the opening and put pressure on his opponent: he broke and served to equalize at one set everywhere.
“I was lucky to make the break. He kind of gave it to me and from there, the game rocked. That’s what playing a Grand Slam semi-final is all about,” commented Djokovic.
By winning the third game of the third set, Norrie ended a streak of five consecutive games won by his opponent. But the Serb, just slowed down, resumed his march forward to lead 5-1 and quietly pocket the set.
He then broke from the start and despite the encouragement of the public, Norrie was in trouble and did not manage to get out.