Novak Djokovic captured his sixth Wimbledon championship after defeating Matteo Berrettini in the final. With this win, Djokovic reached 20 Grand Slam titles, equaling the historic record shared by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The world number one prevailed in a gripping four-set match, finishing with a score of 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
Djokovic entered the match with a psychological edge, having won both previous meetings with Berrettini. This victory represents his sixth title at the All England Club and his 30th overall Grand Slam final appearance. To date, the Serbian's impressive resume includes nine Australian Open crowns, two Roland Garros titles, and three US Open trophies, bringing his total career titles to 85.
By winning Wimbledon, Djokovic has completed the third stage of a potential Golden Slam, following his 2021 triumphs at the Australian and French Opens. A Calendar Year Golden Slam—winning all four majors and an Olympic gold in a single year—remains an untouched milestone in men's tennis, with Steffi Graf (1988) being the only player to ever do it. Should Djokovic win the US Open in September 2021, he will become only the third man in history to sweep all four majors in one year, following in the footsteps of Don Budge in 1938 and Rod Laver in 1962 and 1969.
If Djokovic wins the fourth title in the US Open in September 2021, he will turn out to be only the third man in history after Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) to finish the calendar Grand Slam.
Djokovic started strong in the first set, establishing a 5-2 lead, but Berrettini showed great resilience to force a tiebreak, which he won using his fourth ace of the match. However, Djokovic responded immediately in the second set, racing to a 4-0 lead to bring the match back on even terms.
The momentum shifted permanently in the third set with a single break of serve, and Djokovic secured two more breaks in the fourth to seal the victory. The match ended when a backhand slice from Berrettini hit the net. Despite the Centre Court crowd fervently cheering for the Italian, Djokovic's superior performance eventually quieted the stands.
There was a palpable sense of anticipation for Berrettini to win, as he sought to become Italy's first men's Grand Slam champion since Adriano Panatta's French Open win in 1976. Despite a valiant effort and a hard-fought match, the Italian fell short.
Reflecting on the match, Djokovic described it as more than just a game, calling Berrettini an 'Italian hammer' whose power he felt throughout the match. In a heartwarming moment, Djokovic gifted his racquet to a young fan who had supported him, a gesture that earned a loud ovation from the audience.