The triple defending champion, Novak Djokovic, qualified for the Wimbledon final on Friday July 8 by beating Briton Cameron Norrie (12th in the world) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 and will try to clinch his seventh title on the London turf.

"I've played a lot of Grand Slam semi-finals, but it's never easy to get on the court. There's enormous pressure, personal and outside expectations," the Serb commented. , world No.3, stressing that his opponent, he "had nothing to lose".

At 35, Djokovic will face Australian Nick Kyrgios (40th) on Sunday, who benefited from Rafael Nadal's package the day before their half.

The Serb will aim for his 21st Grand Slam title to return to a length of Nadal's record (22).

Djokovic.

Kyrgios.



Center Court.

Sunday.#Wimbledon |

#CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/GUldzbDgmR

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 8, 2022

By winning his match against Norrie, Djokovic wrote a new page of statistics in his sport.

This final will be his 8th at Wimbledon, and only Roger Federer, eight times winner, has done better (12).

He will play his 32nd final in 68 Grand Slam tournaments played.

He thus takes the record with a final better than Federer (31).

And he equals Martina Navratilova to find herself one length behind Serena Williams (33) and two behind Chris Evert's all-time record (34).

By beating Norrie, Djokovic also signed his 85th victory in the London Major.

Again, only Federer did better (105).

And he's unbeaten at Wimbledon since dropping out in the quarter-finals in 2017 with 27 straight wins.

Only Pete Sampras (31), Roger Federer (40) and Björn borg (41) did better.

In addition, he will aim for his 4th consecutive title at Wimbledon, like Sampras.

Borg and Federer lined up five.

At 26 and for his first Grand Slam semi-final, Norrie didn't seem to feel any particular pressure.

Intractable

"I didn't start the game well, he was the best in the first set," admitted Djokovic.

Norrie thus took Djokovic's service from the start and even if, this time, the Serb picked up, immediately after, the Briton lined up five games in a row to pocket the first set.

But in the second set, at 4-3 for Djokovic, Norrie made a big mistake on a high backhand volley.

The Serbian felt the opening and put pressure on his opponent: he made the break and served to equalize at one set everywhere.

"I was lucky to get the break. He kind of gave it to me and from there the game changed. That's what playing a Grand Slam semi-final is like," commented Djokovic. .

By winning the third game of the third set, Norrie ended a streak of five consecutive games won by his opponent.

But the Serb, just slowed down, resumed his march forward to lead 5-1 and quietly pocket the set.

Intractable, he then broke from the start and despite the encouragement of the public, Norrie was in the trap and did not manage to get out.

With AFP

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