Serbian Novak Djokovic defeated inexperienced Lorenzo Musetti (6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-4) and will repeat the final in Wimbledon Against the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, the title holder.
Musetti faced the seven-time champion, but collapsed in moments of pressure and lost in his first Grand Slam semi-final.
Despite Musetti’s impressive run on grass, reaching the semi-finals in Stuttgart and the final at Queen’s before this result at Wimbledon, the best of his career at a Grand Slam, Djokovic was too much for the Italian, who enjoyed his moments of glory but could not capitalise on a comfortable opponent who did not have a knee.
The Serb did not play in the quarter-finals due to Alex de Minaur’s withdrawal and arrived without a trace and fatigue from the type of match the Australian was going to play.
Without this handicap, Djokovic strained the nerves of the Italian player, who had never set foot on Wimbledon’s main court after his previous warm-up on the same court, a kind of gesture on the part of the organization to acclimatize him to the conditions that awaited him.
But warming up with a few curious people in the stands is one thing, and having the best in history and 15,000 people staring at you is another.
After losing the first set with a sluggish finish and saving three set points in the first epic, Musetti produced his best performance of the tournament in four matches. They built a 3-1 advantage based on a stunning game, but that was mitigated within minutes with the first break point available to the Belgrade side.
In the tiebreak, Djokovic showed no mercy. He broke Musetti’s first two serves and set him up for a defeat that came without consideration or painkillers on the fast track. Before nightfall in London, Musetti was on his way to the dressing room, feeling that he had played a good match, but that more was needed against Djokovic.
This Sunday, the 24-time Grand Slam champion will have the chance to add another title and separate himself once and for all from Margaret Court, who also won 24 titles, but halfway between the amateur era and the open era. Djokovic will once again face Alcaraz, his tormentor last year, in the final.
It will be the first meeting between the two since the semi-finals of the ATP Finals, which the Serb won.
With information from EFE
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