Good afternoon and welcome to LIVE updates of the 2021 Wimbledon men’s final between five-time champion Novak Djokovic and seventh seed Matteo Berrettini. Can the Italian spring a surprise and claim a first Grand Slam in his maiden major final appearance that could be the start of a potential London double for his country today? Or will world number one, Djokovic live up to his billing as the heavy favourite and secure a 20th Grand Slam to move level with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on the all-time men's leaderboard? The players will be on Centre Court from 2pm BST.

N. Djokovic vs M. Berrettini | Wimbledon

Men's Singles | Final | 11.07.2021 | Centre Court

Completed

N. Djokovic (1)

6⁴

M. Berrettini (7)

7⁷

Live

Live Updates

ByDan Quarrell

Updated 11/07/2021 at 16:55 GMT

SET! – DJOKOVIC 6-7 BERRETTINI. Incredible. Berrettini slams an absolute missile of an ace down the T to claim the breaker 7-4 and somehow take the opening set. The Italian was 5-2 down and looking way off the pace but he’s somehow got himself back into it and has the lead after 70 rollercoaster minutes on Centre Court.

TB LATEST: Matteo roars into a 3-0 lead, snaring an instant mini break before Djoker responds with a quick-fire pair of points on his serve. Berrettini lashes a forehand attempt down the line into the net and it’s 3-3 at the chance of ends.

DJOKOVIC 6-6 BERRETTINI. We are heading into a tie break! Berrettini roars with delight as he nails two huge forehands from deuce to claim the hold after having to rally from 15-30 down.

DJOKOVIC 6-5 BERRETTINI. Poor choice! Berrettini chases in for a pass on the opening point of the game but refuses the space down the line and plays it straight to Djoker, who coolly guides the volley home. From there the Serb roars clear to notch up a love hold and guarantee himself the minimum of a tie break.

DJOKOVIC 5-5 BERRETTINI. Matteo is in the building! The Italian crashes down a series of crunching serves and consolidates the break back to 15. He is level!

Image credit: Getty Images

BREAK! – DJOKOVIC 5-4 BERRETTINI. The crowd erupts as Berrettini catches the line with a rasping crosscourt forehand to make 30-30. They sense a chance and Djoker offers it up when he miscues a forehand wide. The Serb responds with a shot off the same flank into the postage stamp but then hooks into the net to give Matteo a second break point from deuce. This time the No.7 seed seizes his moment and picks up Nole’s low slice wide to guide a winner into the corner. It's a brilliant way to end a super rally and game. Now, can he keep his nerve on serve to level the set?

DJOKOVIC 5-3 BERRETTINI. Matteo’s game is still en route to Centre Court. He needs it to arrive by special delivery pretty sharp-ish if he’s to make any impression this afternoon. The only weapon in his arsenal right now is the powerhouse serve. The forehand is malfunctioning as is his radar for depth and width. He takes an age to get out of dodge from deuce, saving a break point along the way. It’s quite painful to watch but he comes through an epic hold and earns a huge ovation from the crowd. Nole will now serve for the set.

DJOKOVIC 5-2 BERRETTINI. This is exactly why Berrettini could be dwelling on such a passive and tight start to this contest for many weeks to come if he doesn't produce a remarkable turnaround today. Djokovic has found much more rhythm on serve now and comfortably cruises to within a game of the opening set.

DJOKOVIC 4-2 BERRETTINI. That was much-needed. Berrettini keeps the Serbinator at arm’s length, leaning on that rapid first serve to stay in touch with a game to 30.

DJOKOVIC 4-1 BERRETTINI. What is going on with Berrettini’s game? Is it nerves? Is it a slight injury to the left thigh which is strapped? He’s missing some gilt-edged chances that you can’t afford to waste against Djoker. He charges in to easily reach his opponent’s pick-up from a drop shot but lazily places it well wide with plenty of open court to aim at. From there Djokovic surges clear and consolidates to love.

Image credit: Getty Images

BREAK! – DJOKOVIC 3-1 BERRETTINI. And there it is! It was very much on the cards. Berrettini looked a gift horse in the mouth – and Djokovic finally starts doing Djokovic-like things to take command of the match. The Italians makes deuce to stave off a first break point with a howitzer of a wide serve. Nole locks in with a deep return and unloads a forehand winner to earn a second chance. More wonderful defence catches Matteo out close to the baseline and the No.7 seed is the one who gets broken.

DJOKOVIC 2-1 BERRETTINI. It’s already got the vibe that Matteo will be lamenting turning these early opportunities down later tonight. A third double fault shows Djokovic is far from his best but the Italian contrives to lash a backhand pass from close-in into the net and a chance of triple break point goes begging. Novak thunders down a first ace of the match and then hammers another big serve down the T to once again escape unscathed.

DJOKOVIC 1-1 BERRETTINI. Nole hooks a return way, way long and Berrettini opens his account. The Italian found his A-game with the big serve, ferocious forehand combo from 30-30 and could have finally settled after some highly evident early nerves.

DJOKOVIC 1-0 BERRETTINI. Even the greatest get nervous. Djokovic opens with a pair of double faults, a timid 77mph second serve and then inexplicably drags a mid-court forehand into the tramlines. Fortunately for the world number one, Berrettini is equally tight and it’s just the one break point he has to fend off. The Serb finds clutch serving to make deuce and wriggles clear to somehow get on the board. Berrettini could well rue that return game. He was given plenty of gifts but found the net far too often under little duress.

14.10

Djokovic will serve first.

14.05

The players arrive on court to rapturous applause. Time for the coin toss and the obligatory warm-up.

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