Just over five weeks after undergoing knee surgery, and three weeks on from arriving at SW19 uncertain if he would even be able to play, Novak Djokovic is through to another Wimbledon final.
It is a stage he has set up almost permanent residence on since 2010, reaching ten finals in the 14 years that have followed. Roger Federer edged a 2012 semi-final, Sam Querrey beat him in the third round in 2016 and Djokovic retired from a quarter-final against Tomas Berdych a year later, but otherwise only a pandemic has got between him and a full fortnight at Wimbledon.
Lorenzo Musetti, in his first Grand Slam semi-final, could not deny Djokovic but certainly made him work, the second seed producing a superb display but still needing almost three hours to seal a 6-4 7-6 6-4 win. He now has a shot at an eighth Wimbledon title and at revenge, when Carlos Alcaraz will again be on the other side of the net after his win over Daniil Medvedev. It is a repeat of last year’s epic five-set final battle when the Spaniard was victorious, in what proved to be Djokovic’s only Grand Slam defeat of 2023.
"He is deservedly one of the greatest 21-year-olds we have seen in this sport,” Djokovic, bidding for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam, said of Alcaraz.
“We will see a lot of him in the future no doubt. He is going to win many more Grand Slams, but hopefully in two days not this one! In the future when I retire in about 15-years! I am joking...
"Jokes aside, he has already beaten me here in a thrilling five-setter - I don't expect anything less than that. He is complete as a player as they come. It is going to take my best ability to beat him on Sunday."
"He's as complete of a player as they come"
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2024
Novak Djokovic spoke with glowing praise about Carlos Alcaraz. Sunday is going to be special 🤩#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/0ECJAmpOwg
The 37-year-old has worn a brace on his knee and at times a scowl on his face over the past fortnight, an impressive quarter-final win over Holger Rune almost forgotten after Djokovic’s post-match criticism of what he perceived to be disrespect from sections of the Centre Court crowd.
There were boos after the match here, an extended outing of Djokovic’s violin celebration not the liking of some of those in attendance, but there had been little to rile him for much of the evening. Djokovic’s call for more noise in the first set was answered as a superb drop shot brought up three break points, and he converted for a 4-2 lead.
A brief blip followed, a clean winner down the line from Musetti bringing a break as Djokovic served for the set, but the delay was only a single game, as the Serbian got the job done on Musetti’s serve instead to take the opening set.
Djokovic repeatedly turned to the serve and volley and Musetti had struggled to find the answer, but the Italian broke in the first game of the second set, a brilliant backhand winner down the line delighting the crowd.
Musetti battled to hold in the next game, seeing off two break points, and then produced one of the shots of the tournament to lead 3-1, flicking an outrageous backhand pass on the run past Djokovic, who could only applaud.
It was back on serve at 3-3, though, Djokovic typically ruthless in dispatching a second-serve return. Musetti sensed a chance at 0-30 with it locked at 5-5, but Djokovic duly fired down three straight aces and the pair were soon preparing for a tie-break, with the Italian having seen off a set point to get there.
Djokovic raced into a 3-0 lead and from there the outcome was almost inevitable, a smash taking the first of four set points and leaving Musetti needing near enough a miracle.
Even that felt like an understatement when Djokovic then broke at the start of the third set, Musetti increasingly struggling to find any joy when returning and chuntering towards his box.
Djokovic brought up three match points on the Musetti serve but could not take any, then making his irritation clear towards the crowd after a shout mid-point as Musetti held to stay in touch at 5-4.
Centre Court attempted to drag the Italian back into it as Djokovic served for the match, and a break point did come his way. A topsy-turvy rally presented Musetti with multiple chances, none of which he capitalised on and minutes later he was making his way off court, as Djokovic ensured he will be walking back on come Sunday for a 37th Grand Slam final.
