Wimbledon Final: Djokovic wins 2nd title at the All England Club - UBITENNIS
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Wimbledon Final: Djokovic wins 2nd title at the All England Club

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TENNIS WIMBLEDON FINAL – Novak Djokovic won his second Wimbledon title be beating 7 time champion Roger Federer. The Serb won a closely contested match in 5 sets. After this win Nole will return on top of the rankings. Read the match updates by Lucia Hoffman for Inside Tennis from Wimbledon

Results, Order of Play, Draws and Interviews from The Championships

First Set

It was a well disputed tiebreaker which Roger Federer won 9-7.

The first time they met, in the semis, Roger won. Federer is bidding for his 8th title at Wimbledon today and to tie the record with Nadal’ s 8th Roland Garros titles.

Finally, the two last men standing at the end of this magical two weeks at the AELTC, are battling for the title, the prize, the glory.

The first set was very well played by both players, who are fighting for every point with a Swiss precision and a Serbian type of focus.Serving at 4-5 , 40/40, Roger was able to sustain a very long rally and eventually won the point for Ad, closing the game with a powerful serve.

The high quality of playing by both player: solid strokes, great movement and strong serves , leads to a first set tie-breaker. Roger finds himself serving at 4-5, and plays a great point. The crowd was holding its breath as Roger approaches the net and but Djokovic hits a lob over his head which lands outside the baseline.

Roger often mentions the importance of making the first serves. At 5-5. he hits a great serve, but after Novak makes a great low return, Roger misses the ball at the net. Novak looking confident, serves at 6-5, but Roger stays in the point forcing Novak to miss.

At 6-6, Novak plays a solid point, and the pressure is back on Roger. Serving at 6-7, he hits an ace for 7-7. Finally, Roger sets his first set point with a very powerful serve, forcing an error from Novak. Set point for Roger, and he converts after Novak misses at the net.

Second Set

Novak Djokovic wins the second set after having a break, early on the second set.

The match has been very physical and Roger doesn’t seem as sharp as in the first, which he won, 9-7, in the tie-breaker.

Novak finds himself serving at 3-2 ; 15/15. A break is always reassuring against a player like Roger who already have a set on his pocket. He holds for 4-2 playing solid tennis. Novak, has been in many finals, some he won and some he lost, but today, he said he was looking forward to this encounter.

Roger serves with authority,powerful serves at 4-2. But soon finds himself at 30-30 due to Novak’s superb defence skills. Novak seems more composed and focused on this second set. But, Roger holds for 3-4. Often top players says, that it’s very important to stay close in the score board. Nadal often says that one break is like having no break, because it’s very easy to lose this lead.

Novak takes his time on the first point serving at 4-3. Roger seems a little uncomfortable with sudden changes of pace by Novak, and makes mistakes. Novak loses the point for 15/30 as the ball lies down on the used up grass patches, and he loses his balance. Interesting, Roger is one of the few players who didn’t fall on the court during this championships. Would he be the last man standing?

At the moment serving at 3-5, things don’t seem to be going Roger’s way, as Novak continues to punish and drag him into long rallies. However, Roger prevails and holds for 4-5.

Wild forehand miss by Novak serving for the set, at 5-4, and Roger has a chance to get the break back. But Roger’s hope to stay in this set doesn’t last long, as Novak hits an ace, wins the next point, and wins the set with an overhead on the open court.

And here we go to the third set, one set each. What’s breaking first: Roger’s fitness or Nole’s mental state?

Third Set

The scores were close, 7-6 for Novak in the third set. However, Roger showing signs of fatigue, perhaps?

Serving at 5-5, 40-30, Roger thought he had the game but call was over ruled and Novak got the point. A few deuces later, and some amazing serves to the rescue, Roger holds for 6-5. A happy crowd applauded loudly,

Novak held for 6-6, displaying great hands at the net, solid strokes and powerful serves.

The tie breaker will decide this well disputed third set. At 2-2 Roger comes in and Novak hits a backhand, passing shot down the line which hits the net and falls in. So first break point for Novak, 3-2.

Novak serves at 4-2 and Roger hits a forehand that is called out. He challenged, and thanks to Hawkeye, it shows the ball was in, The crowd is please by the mechanic call. Should that point have been replayed? Umpire doesn’t think so as Novak didn’t have a play on it.

Roger loses the nest point but manages to hold for 4-5. A cross court forehand gives Novak set point at 6-4. And finally, after a very careful rally by both players, Roger, eventually misses the slice back hand wide and Novak goes up 2 sets to one in this finals.

Novak is looking strong as the match progresses.

Lucia Hoffman for Inside Tennis

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Wrist Injury Threatening To End Holger Rune’s Olympic Dream

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Holger Rune will have a second medical opinion on Monday before deciding if he is fit enough to play at the Olympic Games, according to his team. 

The Danish world No.17 recently retired from his quarter-final match at the Hamburg Open due to a knee injury. The hope at the time was that his withdrawal would be just a precautionary measure ahead of the Olympics. However, he is also dealing with a second issue that appears to be more serious.

According to TV 2 Sport, Rune has been struggling with a wrist issue and underwent a scan on Sunday which his mother Aneke says ‘doesn’t look promising.’ Aneke is also the manager of her son’s career. Rune’s Olympic dreams now rest on the outcome of a second medical expert that he will visit tomorrow who has a better understanding of the sport. 

“Unfortunately, it does not look promising after the first medical opinion after the review of the scan of the wrist,” Aneke Rune told TV 2 Sport.

“We are waiting for two tennis-specific doctors who will give a second opinion tomorrow (Monday). Tennis wrists look different from regular wrists, so we’ll hold out hope for one more day.” 

Rune is one of three Danish players entered into the Olympic tennis event along with Caroline Wozniacki and Clara Tauson. The country has only won one medal in tennis before which was at the 1912 Games when Sofie Castenschiold won silver in the women’s indoor singles event. 

So far this season, the 21-year-old has won 27 matches on the Tour but is yet to claim a title. He reached the final of the Brisbane International and then the semi-finals of three more events. In the Grand Slams, he made it to the fourth round of the French Open and Wimbledon. 

It is not known when a final decision regarding Rune’s participation in Paris will be made.

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Hubert Hurkacz Undergoes ‘Knee Procedure’ Ahead of Olympic Bid

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Poland’s top player on the ATP Tour is not giving up on his dream of winning a medal at the Olympic Games despite recently undergoing a medical procedure.

World No.7 Hubert Hurkacz suffered a knee injury during his second round clash at Wimbledon against France’s Arthur Fils. In the fourth set tiebreak of their clash, Hurkacz dived for a shot but landed badly on his knee and required on-court medical attention. He then played two more points before retiring from the match. 

In a social media post published on Wednesday, the  27-year-old confirmed he underwent a procedure on his knee earlier this week but didn’t provide any further details.  Although Hurkacz has stated his intention to play at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, where the tennis event will be held on the clay at Roland Garros. 

“I had a knee procedure this Monday, but I’m feeling better already and my team and are dedicating extensive time each day to the rehab process.” He wrote on Instagram. 

“It’s a dream for every athlete to represent their country at the Olympics, and I want to make sure I am fully fit and ready before making the final decision to step on court. The aim is not only to participate, but to win a medal for my country.”

So far this season Hurkacz has won 34 out of 48 matches played on the Tour. He won the Estoril Open in April and was runner-up to Jannik Sinner in Halle. 

The Olympic tennis event is scheduled to begin a week Saturday on July 27th. Poland is yet to win a medal in the event but expectations are high with women’s No.1 Iga Swiatek also taking part. 

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Motivation, Pressure And Expectations – Novak Djokovic Targets History At Wimbledon

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image via x.com/wimbledon

Novak Djokovic has broken numerous records throughout his career but he still feels the pressure of trying to make history in the sport. 

The world No.2 is through to his 10th Wimbledon final where he will play Carlos Alcaraz, who beat him at this stage of the tournament 12 months ago. There is plenty on the line for the Serbian who could equal Roger Federer’s record for most men’s titles won at SW19 and break the overall record for most major singles won in the sport if he triumphs over the Spaniard. Djokovic currently has 24 Grand Slam trophies to his name which is the same as Margaret Court, who won some of her titles before the Open Era started. 

“Obviously I’m aware that Roger [Federer] holds eight Wimbledons. I hold seven. History is on the line.” Djokovic said on Friday after beating Lorenzo Musetti.

“Also, the 25th potential Grand Slam. Of course, it serves as a great motivation, but at the same time it’s also a lot of pressure and expectations.”

Coming into Wimbledon, there had been doubts over Djokovic’s form after he underwent surgery to treat a knee injury he suffered at the French Open. However, he has defied the odds to reach the final. His run has also seen him beat Alexi Popyrin and Holger Rune before getting a walkover in the quarter-finals from Alex de Minaur, who sustained an injury during the tournament. Then on Friday, he overcame a spirited Musetti in three sets. 

Despite the challenge, Djokovic has insisted that his expectations to do well are always high no matter what the situation is. During what has been a roller-coaster first six months of the season, he is yet to win a title this year or beat a player currently ranked in the top 10. Although he will achieve both of these if her beats Alcaraz on Sunday. 

“Every time I step out on the court now, even though I’m 37 and competing with the 21-year-olds, I still expect myself to win most of the matches, and people expect me to win, whatever, 99% of the matches that I play.” He said.

“I always have to come out on the court and perform my best in order to still be at the level with Carlos [Alcaraz] or Jannik [Sinner] or Sascha [Zverev] or any of those guys, Daniil [Medvedev]. 

“This year hasn’t been that successful for me. It’s probably the weakest results the first six months I’ve had in many years. That’s okay. I had to adapt and accept that and really try to find also way out from the injury that I had and kind of regroup.”

Djokovic hopes that a Wimbledon win will help turn his season around like it has done in the past for him. 

“Wimbledon historically there’s been seasons where I wasn’t maybe playing at a desired level, but then I would win a Wimbledon title and then things would change.” He commented.

“For example, that was the case in 2018 when I had elbow surgery earlier in the year, dropped my rankings out of top 20, losing in fourth round of Australian Open, I think it was quarters of Roland-Garros, and just not playing the tennis that I want to play. Then I won Wimbledon and then won US Open and then later on became No.1 very soon.”

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Alcaraz is hoping to stop Djokovic in his tracks. Should he defend his title at Wimbledon, he would become the first player outside the Big Three to do so since Pete Sampras more than 20 years ago. He has won their only previous meeting on the grass but trails their head-to-head 3-2. 

“I’m sure he knows what he has to do to beat me,” said Alcaraz.

“But I’m ready to take that challenge and I’m ready to do it well.”

When the two players take to the court to play in the Wimbledon final, Djokovic will be 15 years and 348 days older than Alcaraz. Making it the largest age gap in a men’s Grand Slam final since the 1974 US Open. Whoever is victorious will receive £2,700,000 in prize money. 

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