LONDON – Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will meet in the Wimbledon final for the second straight year.
Djokovic reached his third Wimbledon final in a row, fourth overall, after he defeated Richard Gasquet 7-6(7), 6-4, 6-4. The match was actually a lot closer than the score, but Gasquet’s first serve killed him. Gasquet managed to stay in the first set due to Djokovic’s 13 unforced errors. The Serb attempted to make the Frenchman move from corner to corner, but Gasquet managed to answer. However, he only put in 50% of his first serves.
He gained more control over his first serve in the second set, but at the same time, Djokovic recomposed and fought off two critical break points to protect his serve. He broke Gasquet once, hit five aces, and only committed six errors.
Djokovic grew stronger in the third set as Gasquet wore down. The Serb’s serve was beautiful as 72% of his first serves went in. He also won 89% of his first serve points. Gasquet could not do anything with his serves and committed three deadly double faults. He showed some life in the ninth game when he fought off two match points to force Djokovic to serve for the match, which he did. Djokovic won the tenth and final game 40 to love. But that first set was key:
The first set was really close. I thought Richard played some really good tennis, especially from the backhand side. It was really difficult for me at times to play any kind of ball to his backhand side because he was really going for it, especially along the line. He made a lot of winners. He used the chipped backhand, slice variety as well.
As I said, it was very close, but that was probably the turning point. Winning the first set tiebreak was psychologically very helpful for the rest of the match.
He will attempt to defend his title against the man who almost took it last year.
Federer and Andy Murray gave the crowd a match worthy of a Wimbledon final. Both men played extremely well. Federer served first, was a tad shaky, and even faced one break point. But with a deep breath he quickly recovered. That is the only break point he faced all match.
Game 10 of the second set—if that game did not make anyone a tennis fan, then nothing will. Federer went up 40 to love, three set points on Murray’s serve. The Briton fired off three points to make it deuce.
Set point.
No worry for Murray, though as he fired back a point to bring it back to deuce.
Another set point.
No, the Briton was not ready to stop and made it to deuce again.
Murray and Federer exchanged eight points between each other before Murray finally saved his serve to force another game. The brilliance lasted for 15 minutes.
Unfortunately for Murray, the game did not wear out Federer. He held at love the following game and ultimately broke Murray in game 12 to go up two sets to love.
The third set was just as good as the first two. In the third game, Murray finally forced a deuce on Federer’s serve, but failed to convert. After that, Federer played more determined and even better than the first as he only dropped one point during the rest of his service games.
“Today I was clearly able to play very well from the start,” he said. “The beginning was always going to be an important part of the game. I had to save breakpoint first, then I was able to start rolling on my serve. Played a great game to break. So, I mean, definitely one of the best matches I’ve played in my career. I don’t know, the first set, I don’t remember point by point, but it was definitely really, really solid.”
Djokovic wants to win his third Wimbledon title. Federer wants to win his historic eighth Wimbledon title. No matter what the crowd is in for a great match.
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