Djokovic wins record-matching 20th Grand Slam at Wimbledon

Sports Desk, Jul 11 (EFE).- Novak Djokovic on Sunday equaled the record for most Grand Slam men’s singles titles (20), claiming his sixth Wimbledon trophy at the expense of major finals rookie Matteo Berrettini.

The Serb needed three hours and 24 minutes to defeat the Italian 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 and join Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as the most successful competitors at the majors.

“It means none of us will stop,” Djokovic said when asked about the meaning of drawing level with Spain’s Nadal, 35, and Switzerland’s Federer, who turns 40 next month.

“I have to pay a great tribute to Rafa and Roger as legends of our sport, the two most important players in my career and why I am the player I am today,” the 34-year-old added.

“They made me realize what I needed to improve, mentally, physically and tactically,” he continued.

Although Djokovic drew first blood in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead, he failed to take the first set as the Italian broke back in the ninth game forcing a tie break that the latter then clinched.

But a ruthless Djokovic stormed to a 4-0 second set lead, two service breaks included, yet conceded his delivery while serving for at 5-2.

The first Italian player to compete in a Wimbledon final, however, delayed what seemed to be the inevitable result as Djokovic sealed the set a couple of games later to love.

A single break in the early going of the third set gave Djokovic a 2-1 set lead before he sealed the match on the strength of two service breaks in the seventh and 10th games of the fourth set.

Thus far, the world’s No.1 player has dominated the Grand Slam events this season having previously won both the Australian Open and the French Open titles.

EFE ta-bp