Wimbledon 2021: Novak Djokovic defeats Matteo Berrettini in four sets to retain title

After a decade spent shattering records and clawing back shadows, no light can separate Novak Djokovic from legend any longer. In defeating Matteo Berrettini in four breathtaking sets that demanded all of his stubborn will and ingenuity, the world No 1 has finally equalled the grand slam record set by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and moved one step closer to charting a legacy unrivalled in the men’s game, with only the Olympics and US Open standing between the Serbian and a Golden Slam.

To say this feat was inevitable, though, would severely understate the formidable assault by Berrettini, whose thunderous serving and lightning forehand stretched Djokovic’s defence to its most strained limits. The Italian, playing in his first grand slam final, had briefly stuttered under the weight of expectation and trailed heavily in the first set only to mount a fearless and hostile comeback that even Djokovic struggled to subdue as Berrettini clinched a tiebreak.

But like on so many occasions before, when Djokovic’s resolve was questioned, he dug into the well of resistance that has fuelled a decade of such uncompromising dominance. In each of the following sets, he met Berrettini’s power with unbreakable attrition, seized with ire on the crowd’s opposing roars, and refused to offer an ounce in mercy. In the key moments, in the face of an unstoppable force, Berrettini crumbled and Djokovic brought the curtain down on this Wimbledon with a celebration now all too familiar: his arms raised aloft, with the air of history running between his fingers.

“It was more than a battle. First of all huge congratulations to Matteo and his team on a great tournament and a tough match today,” he said on court afterwards. “It’s not the best feeling losing in the final but there’s a great career ahead of you and as he says, it’s just the beginning. Winning Wimbledon was always the big dream of mine when I was a kid and I have to remind myself how special this is and to not take this for granted. It’s a huge honour and a privilege.”

Full report to follow…

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