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Novak Djokovic wins sixth Wimb...

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Novak Djokovic wins sixth Wimbledon title and equals Grand Slam record

98FM
98FM

06:00 11 Jul 2021


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Novak Djokovic won his sixth Wimbledon title on Sunday and, equalling the all-time record for Grand Slam victories.

The Serbian world number one beat Italy's Matteo Berrettini in four sets in the 2021 men's singles final.

6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 was the final score on Centre Court.

The victory sees Djokovic join Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal with 20 Grand Slam wins.

Berrettini took the first set on a tiebreaker after coming back from 5-2 down and it looked as though we could have a real classic on our hands with the crowd loving it.
Djokovic's power and physicality shone through though in the next three sets which he took quite convincingly.
He was keen though to prise his oppone for what he called a 'tough' encounter.
"It was more than a battle. I would first like to extend my congratulations to Matteo, his family and his team for a fantastic tournament.

"A tough match today, obviously I know that it’s not the best feeling losing in a final, but I’m sure that there’s a great career ahead of you.

"It’s just the beginning and I truly believe in that. Matteo has an incredible game, very powerful, an Italian hammer – I felt that!"

It's the sixth time the Serbian has won the men's singles title at SW19 and he said it remains the stuff of dreams.

“Winning Wimbledon was always the biggest dream of mine when I was a kid, I’ve said this story many times but I have to repeat it again because I have to remind myself how special this is and not take this for granted.

"Instead, to enjoy it and be aware that this is a huge honour and privilege.

“A seven-year-old boy in Serbia, constructing a Wimbledon trophy in my room from improvised materials and today I’m standing with a sixth Wimbledon title, it’s incredible. It’s amazing.”

The win sees Djokovic join Nadal and Federer on 20 Grand Slam titles.

It also means he just needs to claim the US Open later this year to become the first man since Rod Laver to win a Career Grand Slam since Rod Laver did in 1969.

Reflecting on the historic occasion and speaking about the incredible rivalry between the three players, Djokovic doesn't think the other two will be stopping any time soon.

"It means that none of us three will stop! That’s what it means.

"Look, I’ve mentioned this before many times, I have to pay a great tribute to Rafa and Roger. They are legends of our sport and they are the two most important players that I ever faced in my career.

"They are, I think, the reason that I am where I am today. They’ve helped me realise what I need to do in order to improve to get stronger mentally and physically, tactically.

"When I broke into the top 10 for the first time, I lost for three or four years most of the big matches that I played against these two guys, something shifted at the end of 2010, beginning of 2011 and the last 10 years has been an incredible journey that’s not stopping here.”


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Grand Slam Matteo Berrettini Novak Djokovic Wimbledon

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