Djokovic ends Musetti's run, seals Wimbledon final rematch with Alcaraz

pa href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/novak-djokovic/d643/overview'Novak Djokovic/a moved to within one win of capturing a record-equalling eighth a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'Wimbledon/a title on Friday when he ended a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/lorenzo-musetti/m0ej/overview'Lorenzo Musetti/arsquo;s run. The Serbian earned a 6-4, 7-6(2), 6-4 win against the 22-year-old Italian to set a blockbuster rematch of last yearrsquo;s final with a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/carlos-alcaraz/a0e2/overview'Carlos Alcaraz/a./p

pIn a hard-fought clash, Djokovic locked in at crucial moments, repelling Musettirsquo;s court craft with impressive defence and consistency. The Italian fended off three match points from 0/40, 3-5 in the third set before Djokovic saved one break point to serve out and reach his 10th a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'Wimbledon/a final after two hours and 48 minutes./p

p"There was plenty of doubt," Djokovic said about his chances of playing and competing at a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'Wimbledon/a after undergoing knee surgery in June. "Coming to London about eight days before the tournament started I didn't know whether I would play the tournament or not. I was keeping everything open until the day of the draw. I played a couple of practise sets with top players and an exhibition match which proved to me I was in a good enough state to be not just part of a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'Wimbledon/a but to go deep./p

p"I said before the tournament that if I didn't think I had a chance of going deep in the tournament I probably wouldn't be playing. The mentality is there, it is ever present and I am just very pleased and thankful to all the team members for helping me."/p

pIf the 37-year-old Serbian wins a record-extending 25th major on Sunday, he will become the oldest champion in tournament history. Standing in his way is Alcaraz, who beat Djokovic in a five-set thriller in last yearrsquo;s final to win a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'Wimbledon/a for the first time./p

pDjokovic, who leads Alcaraz 3-2 in the pairrsquo;s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, will be eager to avenge that defeat and draw level with a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/roger-federer/f324/overview'Roger Federer/a on a record eight a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'Wimbledon/a crowns./p

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Djokovic prevails over Musetti 6-4 7-6(2) 6-4 to reach yet another a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'Wimbledon/a finalhellip; ????a href="https://twitter.com/a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'Wimbledon/a?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"@wimbledon/a | a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'Wimbledon/a?src=hashamp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"#Wimbledon/a a href="https://t.co/0dLaGvDvFQ"pic.twitter.com/0dLaGvDvFQ/a/p

mdash; ATP Tour (@atptour) a href="https://twitter.com/atptour/status/1811836334971011522?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"July 12, 2024/a/blockquote

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pDjokovic arrived at a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'Wimbledon/a having undergone knee surgery in early June. The 98-time tour-level titlist has moved freely during his five matches at The Championships and benefited from extra rest earlier this week when a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/alex-de-minaur/dh58/overview'Alex de Minaur/a withdrew ahead of their quarter-final clash due to a hip injury./p

pIn a business-like performance against Musetti, Djokovic won 59 per cent (17-29) of points on Musettirsquo;s second serve but committed more unforced errors (34-31) and hit the same number of winners (34-34) as the Italian./p

p"I have said this story many times, but a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'Wimbledon/a has always been a childhood dream for me to play and win it," Djokovic said. "I was a seven-year-old boy in Serbia, watching the bombs fly overhead and dreaming of being on the most important court in the world, which is here, Centre Court at a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'Wimbledon/a./p

p"During the match it is business time. It is trying to do your work and outplay your opponent. I am very satisfied and excited to be in another final. I don't want to stop here and hopefully I will get my hands on that trophy on Sunday."/p

pMusetti was competing in his first major semi-final, having clawed past a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/taylor-fritz/fb98/overview'Taylor Fritz/a in five sets. The 22-year-old produced moments of magic on Centre Court, highlighted by an around-the-net post forehand winner in the second-set tie-break. However, he was unable to join a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/matteo-berrettini/bk40/overview'Matteo Berrettini/a and Jasmine Paolini and become just the third Italian player to reach the title match at SW19, making errors at crucial times against Djokovic to succumb./p

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pMeeting for the seventh time, Djokovic made a fast start on Centre Court to take early control. The second seed was impressive on second serve return in the set, winning 70 per cent (7/10) of points on the Italianrsquo;s second delivery en route to breaking twice to lead./p

pDjokovic was pushed hard in the second set by Musetti, who used his slice backhand to good effect to keep the Serbian at bay. However, from 1-3 down, Djokovic roared back to level and then showed his trademark mental strength at 5-5, 0/30, serving four unreturned first serves to lead 6-5. In the tie-break, the Serbian was patient in rallies and benefited from three Musetti backhand errors to move further ahead./p

pThe seven-time a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/nitto-atp-finals/605/overview'Nitto ATP Finals/a champ then broke immediately at the start of the third with a backhand winner crosscourt and from there held firm on serve to seal victory. Djokovic also beat Musetti last month at a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/roland-garros/520/overview'Roland Garros/a and leads the 25th seed 6-1 in the pairrsquo;s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Queenrsquo;s finalist Musetti leaves London up nine spots to No. 16 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings./p

pstrongDid You Know?/strongbr /

Djokovic, who is into his 37th major final, is chasing his first title of the season. The second seed has won his past nine semi-finals at The All England Club, last losing to Federer in 2012./p

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