Novak Djokovic Advances to 37th Grand Slam Final at Wimbledon 2024, Faces Carlos Alcaraz
Novak Djokovic, the no. 1 ranked Tennis Superstar has booked his place in the 37th Grand Slam final at Wimbledon at the age of 37, where he will face Carlos Alcaraz.
Known as the “Great Eliminator” of tennis, Djokovic posed a serious threat to Lorenzo Musetti.
Not everyone believes that Novak Djokovic is the greatest player of all time. However, there’s no arguing that Novak Djokovic is the Great Eliminator of tennis.
There are two reasons why the Serbian deserves the honor. Overall, he has defeated countless athletes to win 24 Grand Slam singles titles and 98 championships in total. But there are innumerable instances of Djokovic stifling opponent advances, stifling positive momentum, and depressing his opponents throughout each of those sets.
In one afternoon on Center Court, Lorenzo Musetti, Djokovic’s opponent in Friday’s Wimbledon semifinals, encountered both.
Djokovic seemed to have the first set without much controversy. However, Musetti and the Center Court spectators rightfully thought otherwise when the 25th-seeded Italian held from 0-30 at 2-5 and then broke Djokovic after saving two set points to come back on serve.
How did Djokovic behave? After taking a seat on the changeover, he broke Musetti for the set by going into Eliminator Mode. That fierce comeback was all for nothing.
(Djokovic, incidentally, won the opening set at Wimbledon and entered this match up 81-2.)
Musetti was right to believe that, though, as he was playing quite well and forcing some characteristic Djokovic reactions with his full arsenal of shot-making techniques. Musetti outscored Djokovic on winners (22 to 20) and unforced errors (14 to 23) over the opening two sets. However, he had lost two sets.
How did Djokovic win the second set and get rid of Musetti? by giving it his all when it mattered most. Following the stunning running cross-court backhand winner from the 22-year-old Queen’s Club finalist that gave him a 3-1 lead, Djokovic steadied, held service, and broke at love for a 3-3 advantage.
Unfazed, Musetti persisted in exerting pressure on Djokovic, and the two exchanged holds until a 5-5 result. Next, Musetti made another push, reaching 0-30 on the way back.
Eliminator Mode is active.
Djokovic was scoreless on ground balls for the remainder of the match:
Unreturned serve
Ace
Ace
Ace
In the end, Djokovic prevailed 7-2 in the tiebreaker and 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-4 to win the match, but not before erasing Musetti’s last opportunity.
In the seventh game, Musetti maintained serve after trailing 0–40, but Djokovic erased the Italian’s chances to go up 0–30 and 30–40 before sealing the victory. Now in his 37th Grand Slam singles final, the 37-year-old is competing.
Djokovic, who will play in his tenth Wimbledon final, said, “I try not to take it for granted. It has been an incredible journey.” “I want to keep going; maybe on Sunday, I’ll hold that trophy in my hands.”
We are eagerly awaiting Carlos Alcaraz. Novak is likewise incapable.
The more experienced winner declared, “He’s one of the best 21-year-olds we’ve ever seen in this sport.” “He will win numerous more Grand Slam titles.” But maybe not this one, hopefully in two days.
“He already defeated me here in the exhilarating five-setter Wimbledon championships last year. To be honest, I don’t anticipate anything less than that.
