Wimbledon 2021 LIVE result: Novak Djokovic beats Matteo Berrettini - men’s final latest updates
Follow all the reaction as the defending champion aims to win his sixth Wimbledon title
Follow live reaction after Novak Djokovic beat Italian Matteo Berrettini to win his sixth title at Wimbledon on Sunday.
The win - 6-7(4) 6-4 6-4 6-3 - also earned the Serbian world number one a 20th Grand Slam title, equalling the men's record held by Switzerland's Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Spain.
The Italian took a thrilling first set on a tie break only for the top seed to roar back to level it in the second and eventually take the title, a third in a row at the All England Club.
Follow all the reaction live:
WIMBLEDON 2021: DJOKOVIC ON PRECIPICE OF HISTORY
Djokovic has made no secret about his ambition to win a Golden Slam, but victory today would already see him match Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s men’s grand slam record of 20 titles.
“It would mean everything,” he said. “That’s why I’m here. That’s why I’m playing. I imagined myself being in a position to fight for another grand slam trophy prior to coming to London. I put myself in a very good position.
“Anything is possible in the final. Obviously experience is on my side. But Berrettini has been winning a lot of matches on grass courts this year, winning Queen’s. He’s in great form. He’s serving big, playing big. So it’s going to be a very tough match I think for both of us. But I’m looking forward to a great battle.”
WIMBLEDON 2021: DJOKOVIC VS BERRETTINI
Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the men’s final at Wimbledon as Novak Djokovic faces Matteo Berrettini.
Djokovic, the world No 1 and defending champion, can equal Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s grand slam record with victory, while a third successive Wimbledon crown would also take him one step closer to the Golden Slam - a feat never previously achieved in the men’s game. The Serbian has enjoyed a somewhat gentle draw but raised his game exactly when required to stifle Denis Shapovalov in a tougher test in the semi-finals.
Berrettini, meanwhile, has already made history by becoming Italy’s first grand slam finalist at Wimbledon. The Queen’s Club champion is riding the greatest wave of momentum of his career and showed few signs of nerves in a comprehensive victory over Hubert Hurkacz in the semi-finals.
The pair have only played each other twice before, most recently in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, with Djokovic victorious on both occasions.
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