DEFENDING champion Novak Djokovic needed all of his nous and quality to edge past Denis Shapovalov on Friday and set up a Wimbledon men’s final with Italy’s Matteo Berrettini on Sunday.
Canada’s Shapovalov, 22, played superbly for the most part, only for Djokovic to claim the key moments on his way to a 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 7-5 win.
Berrettini earned a 6-3 6-0 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 win over Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz.
The seventh seed is the first Italian to reach the men’s singles final.
The Queen’s champion used his big forehand and serve to good effect to reach his first Grand Slam final, with Sunday’s showpiece taking place just hours before his nation take on England in football’s Euro 2020 final.
The 25-year-old is the first Italian man to reach a Grand Slam final since 1976.
“I have no words, really,” Berrettini said. “I need a couple of hours to understand what happened.
“I think I never dreamed about this because it was too much for a dream.”
Berrettini, 25, had been tipped by many for a deep run at Wimbledon after his displays at Queen’s, where he became the first player to win the title on debut at the event since Boris Becker in 1985.
It will not have escaped the Italian’s notice that Germany’s Becker went on to win the title at the All England Club that year.
BBC Sport
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