That’s it for today. Let’s leave you with Tumaini Carayol’s report of the Norrie-Djokovic semi-final. Thanks for reading.
All smiles now but, having not played him for five years, Djokovic may not be so jocular when he gets another taste of the Nick Kyrgios show on Sunday.
"One thing is for sure, there's going to be fireworks" 🎆@DjokerNole is excited for his battle with @NickKyrgios on Sunday#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/jU0m3PkJFf
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 8, 2022
Shot of the day: Alfie Hewett whipping this backhand winner.
Leaving us speechless, @alfiehewett6 🤩#Wimbledon | @the_LTA pic.twitter.com/VvpYcxS8Qx
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 8, 2022
Maybe this is the daddy of Djokovic stats...
Most Grand Slam men’s singles final appearances:
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 8, 2022
32 - @DjokerNole
31 - Roger Federer
30 - Rafael Nadal
19 - Ivan Lendl
18 - Pete Sampras#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/EPd8EB4Tmk
Novak Djokovic’s stats and numbers are incredible. Too many to list but I like this one: Djokovic has won at least one grand slam title every year since 2010 barring 2017 (when he had elbow problems). Blimey.
We do have a Brit in a Wimbledon final thanks to a dramatic win by Alfie Hewett in the men’s wheelchair semis. Paul MacInnes saw the action on a rapt Court One.
As the BBC’s Rishi Persad asked Novak Djokovic about meeting Nick Kyrgios in Sunday’s final, the crowd let out some pantomime noises. Yep, that’s the sort of response the Australian generates. A couple of articles here on the man who could easily star alongside Billy Pearce or Shaun Williamson if he ever gets bored with the tennis.
As we brace ourselves for the two singles finals - the women’s on Saturday and the men’s on Sunday - let’s build the anticipation. First, it’s Tumaini Carayol on tomorrow’s big game on Centre Court.
Norrie was rightly given a huge reception as he walked off. He’s had a fortnight to remember and it’s worth noting that Andy Murray didn’t just do it in one Bob Beamon-style leap here. Murray made his first Wimbledon semi-final in 2009, reached his first final in 2012 and then won it in 2013. I’m sure Norrie would sign up for a similar trajectory.
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Djokovic on playing Kyrgios in the final. “There’s going to be a lot of fireworks! We haven’t played for some time. Never won a set off him.” It’s true; the Australian holds a 2-0 winning record although both those matches were back in 2017 and on outdoor hardcourts.
Djokovic speaks. “I didn’t start off well. He was the better player for the first set. Cameron didn’t have much to lose. He’s playing probably the tournament of his life. I wish him all the best, he’s a great player, I have a lot of respect for him.”
Djokovic beats Norrie three sets to one to reach Wimbledon final
Djokovic wins 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4! Djokovic holds serve to book his place in the final! A loose Norrie forehand gifts Djokovic the opening point. Not the start the Brit wanted. But he makes amends with a kicking forehand which his opponent can’t tame. Djokovic wallops an ace down the middle as if to show his disdain but than fades a forehand wide. 30-30. Interesting! But Djokovic’s heavy serve takes him to match point and he seals it first go with an another crunching first serve which a desperate Norrie can’t return. A brave effort by the Brit but Djokovic just had too many weapons and once he got going there was only one winner.
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*Norrie 6-2, 3-6, 2-6, 3-5 Djokovic (* denotes server) A couple of Djokovic errors give Norrie some breathing space at 30-0 before a delicate drop shot takes the Serb back to 30-15. Djokovic then gifts Norrie the next two points, as if all his focus now is on serving out rather than trying to win this match with a break. Anything left Cam? The crowd want a ‘yes’. Norrie returns to his seat to try and summon something, anything, up.
Norrie 6-2, 3-6, 2-6, 3-5 Djokovic (* denotes server) Djokovic wins the opening point but then aims wide with a double-handed backhand down the line. Nothing an ace on the very next point won’t solve (that’s 11 aces now) though before he has Norrie running side to side, clinching 40-15 with a forehand winner. A point to his box and a clenched fist after that one. How about another ace to finish the game off. Looks like Djokovic is closing in. He’s a game away.
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*Norrie 6-2, 3-6, 2-6, 3-4 Djokovic (* denotes server) Norrie opens with an ace before going long with a forehand to make it 15-15. But he wrong-foots his opponent with a winner down the middle and then sprints to retrieve a Djokovic drop shot to go 40-15. A huge roar as an unforced Djokovic error gives Norrie the game. Does he have something still left in him?
Norrie 6-2, 3-6, 2-6, 2-4 Djokovic* (* denotes server) Hi, Dave Tindall here to take you through to the finish. An easy hold for Djokovic ends with an ace. The Serb gives a cold stare to someone in the crowd. Game face fully on here.
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*Norrie 6-2, 3-6, 2-6, 2-3 Djokovic (* denotes server) A fizzing return at Norrie’s feet puts the Brit under pressure at 15-30. He needs Djokovic to get fancy with a backhand drop shot he lands short to get back to 30-30. He could really do with a big first serve. He doesn’t get it. Djokovic gets into the game and forces Norrie to miss after chasing down a drop shot. Break point. Norrie saves it with a brave forehand into the corner. Deuce. Djokovic sends Norrie running round the court like a cocker spaniel in the next point, though, to bring up another break point. Norrie saves it (to roars of approval from the crowd) and a few moments later saves a second. He then saves a third and fourth before finally holding. Plucky stuff.
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Norrie 6-2, 3-6, 2-6, 1-3 Djokovic* (* denotes server) Norrie shows good touch on a backhand drop shot to set up a forehand winner and get into the game at 15-15. Two aces and 40 seconds later he’s not in it any more. Another serve down the middle is unreturnable and Djokovic is two games and a break up in the fourth set.
*Norrie 6-2, 3-6, 2-6, 1-2 Djokovic (* denotes server) This is better from Norrie. He booms down some angry serves that Djokovic can’t handle and watches the Serb punch a forehand into the net to hold to love.
Norrie 6-2, 3-6, 2-6, 0-2 Djokovic*(* denotes server) The Centre Court crowd is trying to rally Norrie but he doesn’t seem to react much to the noise around him, which is a good thing when trying to stay at a steady level, but a bad thing when you need a spark to ignite some improved play. Djokovic holds to love after some wonderful net play.
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*Norrie 6-2, 3-6, 2-6, 0-1 Djokovic (* denotes server) Norrie misses to the left to let Djokovic back in the game at 30-30. Norrie finds a fizzing backhand which Djokovic can only loop up high and long. Game point but Norrie can’t take it. Djokovic crashes a return back at his forehand, which Norrie pushes into the net. Deuce. A poor backhand gives Djokovic break point. And a long forehand gives his rival the game. Oh dear.
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Djokovic takes a bathroom break, in which one imagines he is staring into the mirror telling himself: “Get this done, fast!” I’m sure he wants to conserve energy for the final on Sunday give Kyrgios will have had two days’ extra rest.
Djokovic wins third set 6-2 and leads the match 2-1
Norrie 6-2, 3-6, 2-6 Djokovic* (* denotes server) Djokovic is serving to take the third set. He looks in a hurry to do so as he puts too much juice on an early backhand when he is mid-court. 0-15. Then Norrie senses an opportunity and races in on a second serve only to dump a backhand into the net. 15-15. Norrie runs down a Djokovic drop shot but when he dinks it over the net, the Serb is waiting with a grin and pushes it back past him. 30-15. An unforced error from Norrie at 40-30 gives Djokovic the game and third set.
*Norrie 6-2, 3-6, 2-5 Djokovic (* denotes server) Norrie holds to 30. That’s better. His first-serve percentage is only slightly behind Djokovic’s at 61% but it feels like it should be much lower. He’s brave to come in on a second serve and get to game point, which he takes.
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Norrie 6-2, 3-6, 1-5 Djokovic* (* denotes server) “Very pessimistic about how Norrie is playing. Is it possible this Djokovic feller is actually quite good,” honks Mark Pender. Norrie certainly needs to raise his level because Djokovic is on cruise control here. Norrie was clearly better than a woeful Djokovic in the first set but even the average-to-good version of Djokovic we’re seeing here is streets ahead of Norrie. He holds to 15 and now Norrie will have to serve to stay in the third set.
*Norrie 6-2, 3-6, 1-4 Djokovic (* denotes server) Again Norrie is made to sweat on his serve – and this time he is broken. Djokovic is attacking the Brit’s forehand and coming into the net more often than he did earlier. Norrie needs a booming first serve to get back to 30-30 but Djokovic has the measure of his man now and bends two points to his will, winning the game when Norrie fires a backhand wide after a vicious return of serve.
Norrie 6-2, 3-6, 1-3 Djokovic* (* denotes server) “Let’s go Norrie, let’s go,” chant the Centre Court crowd. Can Norrie use that energy to put pressure on the Djokovic serve for the first time in a while? A Djokovic ace silences them. 15-0. Norrie stays in the next point, though, and Djokovic dumps a backhand into the net. 15-15. Djokovic doesn’t look back. A fizzing volley and two aces later, he has a two-game lead in the third set.
*Norrie 6-2, 3-6, 1-2 Djokovic (* denotes server) Norrie just needs to win a poin here and then work from that. He doesn’t win the first, but then a disguised forehand sends Djokovic to the wrong fire and the Centre Court crowd roar their approval. 15-15. Fuelled by that energy, Norrie lands a delicious backhand volley and uses a couple of strong first serves to hold to 15. Hopefully that has helped stop the rot.
Norrie 6-2, 3-6, 0-2 Djokovic* (* denotes server) This is looking ominous for Norrie now. Everything he hits seems to be going out or into the net. He barely hints at troubling Djokovic, who holds to love comfortably when Norrie smashes a simple mid-court overhead wide.
*Norrie 6-2, 3-6, 0-1 Djokovic (* denotes server) Norrie just needs to hold here to slow Djokovic’s momentum. The British No 1 wins a wonderful first point, steering a forehand down the line after an attempted drop-shot by Djokovic. Norrie can’t chase down a fine volley by the Serb. 15-15. He puts himself under pressure again, though, with an errant forehand. 15-30. An angry smash gets him back to 30-30 but then he fires long and faces another break point. He saves it with some lovely net play. 40-40. But Djokovic takes a second break point when Norrie slashes a wild forehand high and long.
Chris Page writes: “No more must Wheelchair Tennis be hidden away on an outside court. As a wheelchair user watching on TV, I feel seen. Can we rename Henman Hill ‘Hewett Hill’?” You’re on to something there, Chris. That was an awesome comeback from Hewett who said of the Court One atmosphere:
I’ve never experienced anything like this before, so thank you. I was actually asleep at 9.30 last night and I got woke up by a phone call saying there’s a change of court. I was buzzing. I said yesterday we try to improve the exposure of our sport and I think we showcased a pretty good level today.
you certainly did, Alfie.
Djokovic wins second set 6-3 to level match at 1-1
Norrie 6-2, 3-6 Djokovic* (* denotes server) It’s not the best start from Djokovic, who double-faults. 0-15. Then he wafts a woeful backhand drop shot into the net when he had good court position. 0-30 with Djokovic playing as badly as he did in the first set. Normal service is resumed, though, with Djokovic booming two first serves down to get to set point. He takes it, thanks to a Norrie unforced error. One set apiece.
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*Norrie 6-2, 3-5 Djokovic (* denotes server) Norrie does everything right at 15-15 before missing a backhand volley at the net that he would put away 99 times out of 100. 15-30 and more pressure for the Brit. Djokovic sees a Norrie drop shot coming from a mile away in the next point and puts it away to bring up two break points. This time Norrie crumbles, hitting long with his forehand and Djokovic, who looks more like himself now, will serve for the second set.
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Norrie 6-2, 3-4 Djokovic* (* denotes server) It’s a hold to love for Djokovic, who conserves all his energy to have another crack at Norrie’s serve. Can he do it this time?
Britain's Alfie Hewett into men's wheelchair final!
Hewett battles back from a break behind in the deciding set to beat Argentina’s Gustavo Fernández 2-6, 7-6, 6-4. It’s his first Wimbledon final. And he’s absolutely buzzing. What a player he is. He’ll be aiming for his sixth grand slam title and he’s only 24.
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*Norrie 6-2, 3-3 Djokovic (* denotes server) A poor smash into the net by Norrie gives Djokovic another sniff of a break. 15-30. A beautiful backhand down the line makes Djokovic dump the ball into the net, though. 30-30. A wild forehand from Norrie that misses by half a metre gives Djokovic another break point. Can he take it? Nope. A fine wide serve from Norrie helps him get to deuce. Norrie has to fight off another break point after a poor forehand, but does so, aggressively. He takes the game after winning a sliced backhand back-and-forth. He’s good at those.
Norrie 6-2, 2-3 Djokovic* (* denotes server) Norrie moves Djokovic around after getting back a fine return of serve, winning the first point with an overhead smash. 0-15. Djokovic shows better court craft in the next couple of points, though, and looks a little happier as he finds the corners of the court with his open forehand. 30-15. A couple of big serves give Norrie no chance and it’s a hold to 15 for Djokovic, who is giving Norrie very little to work with now he has raised his game a level.
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*Norrie 6-2, 2-2 Djokovic (* denotes server) Two big first serves, including an ace, take Norrie to 30-0. A flash of his forehand gets Djokovic to 15-30 and then Norrie thumps a mid-court forehand wide when he really should have won the point. He challenges but no dice. Now the pressure is on Norrie as he wafts a weak forehand into the net. Break point. A brave and brilliant point from Norrie, who follows in a vicious forehand and volleys home to bring up deuce, saves it. Djokovic tries to fire back a second serve when Norrie has the advantage but finds the net. Norrie holds.
Norrie 6-2, 1-2 Djokovic* (* denotes server) Norrie tries to make Djokovic miss with a couple of low, flat backhands but the Serb is much more accurate this time and looks more sure of himself when dealing with them. He doesn’t miss and it is Norrie who makes unforced errors. And on 40-0 he serve-volleys to hold to love for a second service game in a row.
*Norrie 6-2, 1-1 Djokovic (* denotes server) A poor miss at the net by Norrie after a good wide serve gives Djokovic a sniff at 30-30. Norrie forces Djokovic into a corner and is presented with the same type of backhand volley again. No alarms and no surprises this time, though. He cushions it across court to win the point. 40-30. Norrie benefits from a net cord in the very next point. Sorry but not sorry. It’s a hold.
Norrie 6-2, 0-1 Djokovic* (* denotes server) This is the Djokovic we know. A hold to love with some brilliantly varied serves.
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Hewett has broken back in the men’s wheelchair semi against Fernandez. It’s 4-4 in the deciding set and on serve.
Norrie wins the first set against Djokovic 6-2
*Norrie 6-2 Djokovic (* denotes server) Djokovic looks like he just wants this first set to be over so he can start again. It’s a hold to 15 for Norrie, with Djokovic helping out with a couple of unforced errors. Norrie isn’t even serving particularly well.He double faults twice. He’s at 42% on first serves. He does power down a 127mph thumper to go 40-15 up, mind and then an ace brings him the first set. Wow.
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Norrie 5-2 Djokovic* (* denotes server) Djokovic’s timing looks to be off. At 15-0 he fires another forehand into the net. He’s done that often in this first set. 15-15. On the next point he swipes an ugly forehand well wide as though he’s an excitable teenager not a 20-times slam winner. 15-30. Norrie brings up two more break points by running down a weak drop shot and putting it away comfortably. He’s not going to break him again is he? Yes, he is. He simply outlasts Djokovic in a rally and makes the great man find the net again. This is an incredible start by the Brit but, of more note, a dreadful one by Djokovic. He will surely get better. He has to.
*Norrie 4-2 Djokovic (* denotes server) Can Norrie consolidate? Djokovic sends Norrie for a runaround before finally putting a cushioned volley away at the net. 0-15. Norrie pounces on a mishit forehand to rifle away a mid-court forehand. 15-15. A booming first serve catches the line and Djokovic can’t control it. 30-15. Norrie is looking good now and has no trouble seeing the game out to 15.
Norrie 3-2 Djokovic* (* denotes server) Can Norrie put a little pressure on the Djokovic serve again? At 15-15 he certainly tries, firing long with a double backhand as he tried to pass Djokovic. 30-15. With Djokovic struggling on his first serve, Norrie takes things low with his flat backhand. It works a treat with Djokovic stooping down and finding the net. 30-30. And then Djokovic punches a wayward backhand wide. Break point. And what a point. Norrie scrambles to stay in the point, goes low with his backhand again, and watches Djokovic fire long. He’s broken Djokovic again!
*Norrie 2-2 Djokovic (* denotes server) What a point to kick this game off. A tweener lob from Djokovic sets up a volley at the net after a brilliantly entertaining rally. 0-15 and Djokovic holds his arms up to accept the Centre Court crowd’s rich appreciation. A cross-court backhand is brilliantly placed by Norrie to force Djokovic to slam a mistimed forehand into the net. 15-15. Then the Brit puts too much fuel on a forehand and goes long. 15-30. He battles back to 30-30, hits a rapid first-serve that is too hot for Djokovic to handle to get to game point at 40-30, and then fires down another to hold. Solid.
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Hewett has been broken in the deciding set of the men’s wheelchair semi and trails Fernandez 3-1.
Norrie 1-2 Djokovic* (* denotes server) This is more like it from Djokovic, who is starting to loosen up. A couple of aces – one wide, and one down the middle – see him to hold to 15 with little fuss.
*Norrie 1-1 Djokovic (* denotes server) So how will the British underdog far on his own serve? Not too well. Djokovic puts the pressure on at 15-15 and forces Norrie to miss to the left with a stiff forehand. 15-30. A loose backhand gives Djokovic two break points. Norrie looks nervous and misses his first serve and then slams a forehand into the net. Djokovic breaks back!
Norrie 1-0 Djokovic* (* denotes server) Norrie breaks immediately! Djokovic starts tentatively. His first serve is walloped into the net, then he struggles with his ball toss and eventually fires over a lame second serve. Norrie takes control and outlasts Djokovic in the rally. 0-15. Norrie pounces on another second serve and forces Djokovic to waft at a forehand, that loops long. 0-30 and a huge cheer from Centre Court. Djokovic battles back to 15-30 but then gifts Norrie two break points. The Brit can’t take the first but a delicate backhand volley at the net means he doesn’t miss the second. Game on!
Right, we’re ready to go on Centre Court. Djokovic is serving first. Here we go!
In the men’s wheelchair semi-final on Court 1, it’s 1-1 and on serve in the deciding set between Britain’s Alfie Hewett and Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez.
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Djokovic finally joins Norrie. Centre Court erupts as the two semi-finalists emerge. Norrie has a warrior’s look about him, with a thick stripe of white sun block smeared across his cheeks and nose. They will have a 10-minute knock-up before play starts.
Thanks Tom. Hello everyone. It is sweltering in London today so expect a festival of sweat on Centre Court this afternoon. Cameron Norrie and Novak Djokovic are two of the fittest players on the tour so they will be more than capable of dealing with the heat and the intensity of their semi-final. Djokovic has left Norrie waiting outside the locker room. Early mind games? Norrie’s mind must be racing. It’s his first grand slam semi-final. And what a semi-final! Wimbledon, with a raucous home crowd, against once of the greatest players tennis has seen. The match will be under way shortly. I can’t wait.
On Centre Court, Krejcikova and Siniakova have romped through to the women’s doubles final 6-2, 6-2. Next up there is Djokovic and Norrie, who’ll be out shortly.
And Alfie Hewett produces a storming tiebreak, winning it 7-3 to set up a deciding set against Gustavo Fernandez in their wheelchair semi. This has been a thrilling comeback from the British player.
And on that bombshell, I’ll hand you over to Gregg Bakowski, who’ll talk you through the big one. Bye.
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Oh Alfie! Hewett breaks Fernandez yet again to lead 6-5 but, serving to level the match at one set all he is broken to 15, the Argentinian sending us to a tiebreak with a brilliant forehand return of Hewett’s second serve.
Some belated stirring from Alfie Hewett: he breaks Fernandez back for 2-5 then has three break points on the Argentinian’s subsequent service game. Fernandez saves two of them – the second with a devastating cross-court forehand winner – but Hewett outpoints him in a long rally to claim the break. We’re now back on serve at 4-5 in the second set!
In the women’s doubles semi-finals, the No 2 seeds Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova have won the first set 6-2 against Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko, seeded four, on Centre Court.
Alfie Hewett, meanwhile, is staring down the barrel in his wheelchair semi-final against Gustavo Fernandez. He’s just been broken again and is 1-5 down in the second set, and a set down.
While we’re waiting for the big match, here’s some pre-play reading.
Simon Cambers on why talk of giving ‘lucky losers’ a place in the semis is a bad idea:
Tumaini Carayol on Cameron Norrie’s journey from South Africa to SW19:
And Tumaini again on what Norrie needs to do to stand a chance of outwitting Djokovic:
Britain’s Alfie Hewett is in a fairly sizeable spot of bother in his men’s wheelchair singles semi against Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina, who won the first set 6-2 and is 3-0 up in the second on Court No 1.
Preamble
Afternoon everyone. And what a glorious day it is for the men’s semi-finals. But alas we have only one to enjoy today as Rafa Nadal’s injury has deprived us of a tantalising showdown with Nick Kyrgios, who advances to his first grand slam final amid all the clouds surrounding him off-court. Kyrgios has wished Nadal well.
All of which leaves us focusing on the intriguing match-up between Britain’s Cameron Norrie, also enjoying a best-ever grand slam run, and Novak Djokovic, whose best-ever grand slam runs have brought him a trifling 20 titles. Both players went through gruelling five-setters in their quarter-finals, and Djokovic’s winning experience of such matches obviously makes him clear favourite, but Jannik Sinner exposed chinks on Tuesday and Norrie showed his own reserves of competitive courage.
He’ll have the crowd’s backing too, Centre Court having taken to Norrie more and more as the fortnight has progressed although Djokovic, for all his controversies over the past couple of years, has been largely warmly received at SW19 this year.
They’ll be on court around 3.30pm BST but we’ll have buildup and news from the other courts before then. So stick around.
