Key events
Djokovic takes the first point on serve … and then the first point on Musetti’s serve as the Italian hits long. Plenty of cheering for Djokovic there, it has to be said. Maybe he’ll be a bit kinder to the crowd in his on-court interview – well, that’s if he wins of course. There won’t be an on-court interview if he doesn’t. The victory looks more likely as Djokovic wins another point on Musetti’s serve for 3-0 …
Second set: Musetti 4-6, 6-6 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
The longest rally of the match – 26 shots – and it’s Djokovic who is victorious. 15-all. But then Musetti cuts Djokovic into 1,000 pieces with an array of slices, before he lobs the Serb and then smashes away the high ball! 30-15. Djokovic goes more route one with a crushing return and it’s 30-all. Then 30-40, set point, when Musetti opts to come forward and Djokovic’s return has too much bite on it. Musetti kicks the ball into the net in frustration. Drama on set point as Djokovic’s effort is called out – he’s certain it’s in – but it wasn’t. So deuce. And advantage Musetti with an inside-out forehand winner. And game Musetti when Djokovic misdirects his return! It’s time for a tie-break.
Second set: Musetti* 4-6, 5-6 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic is bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bouncing that ball before he serves at 0-30. It helps get him back to 15-30 – and an ace makes it 30-all. An ace down the T and, from 0-30, it’s 40-30. He’s scorching the lines here. And the service line is quite possibly on fire as another ace gives Djokovic the game.
Second set: Musetti 4-6, 5-5 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
These could be the biggest moments of the match, you feel, as Musetti has never come back from two sets to love down in his career. Djokovic holds to 15, with relative ease, to lead 5-4. This is the point at which Djokovic struck to win the first set … and he’s got Musetti stumbling into the grass after a rocket down the line. 15-all. But this time Musetti does hold firm as Djokovic drills into the net at 40-15.
Second set: Musetti 4-6, 4-4 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
A huge point for Musetti at 30-all on his serve; a break here would leave Djokovic serving for a two sets to love lead. A smart kicker on the second serve and it’s 40-30. A cunning drop shot and that’s the game.
Second set: Musetti* 4-6, 3-4 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Musetti has tattoo which says Il meglio deve ancora venire – the best is yet to come. He may need to take a look at it for reassurance as a dominant Djokovic consolidates the break to 15. The seven-times champion has taken seven of the past eight points, after Musetti had done so well to get back into this match. But that is the challenge of facing one of the best match players the game has ever seen – even when that player is now 37.
The Djokovic return position has been so aggressive all the way through. Pays off as he breaks back for 3-3 in the second
— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) July 12, 2024
Djokovic breaks: Musetti 4-6, 3-3 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
But having applauded his opponent, Djokovic gets straight back to business, holding to 30. He then pulls up his sleeves and rips through Musetti’s service game to love with some victorious forays to the net – followed by a forehand cross-court winner on the first break point.
Second set: Musetti 4-6, 3-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Musetti is starting to look like he belongs on Centre Court; you’d never know it’s his first time on it. The 22-year-old said he felt lost on grass a year ago, and this is the first time he’s been beyond the third round. He was previously seen as a clay-courter, but his throwback game matches up well on the grass, with his slice that bounces so low, along with his good hands, variety and imagination. After Djokovic holds to 30, that imagination comes to the fore as Musetti holds with a ridiculous flicked backhand winner on the run. Even Djokovic is applauding.
Second set: Musetti 4-6, 2-0 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
The momentum appears very much with Musetti at 30-0, but Djokovic drags him back to 30-all with a deft volley. Djokovic piles on the pressure for 30-40, break point. A strong serve gets Musetti out of the hole, and then Djokovic is digging his own hole with a miscued forehand. That could easily have been another break point; instead its advantage Musetti. Musetti – on the run – tries to flash a forehand cross-court winner but can’t pull it off. Deuce. Advantage Djokovic, a second break point. Deuce. Advantage Musetti. Deuce. Advantage Musetti. Game. Phew. Eventually the Italian backs up the break.
Musetti breaks: Musetti* 4-6, 1-0 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Wow. What a point. It’s a battle of the backhands with Djokovic break point down at 30-40, and it’s the one-hander that prevails over the two-hander. “Prime Wawrinka,” Krygios says. Roger may be a bit put out by that.
Some reading for you:
Djokovic takes a pretty even first set. Not much in it but he made so many returns that Musetti has been under pressure a lot
— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) July 12, 2024
Djokovic wins the first set 6-4
Those on Centre Court who left after the first semi-final are now piling back in, having heard about the fightback. But Musetti undoes much of his good work by dropping down 0-30. And that’s 0-40, when, with Djokovic prowling on the baseline for the second serve, Musetti double faults. A drop shot fends off the first set point. But another drop shot falls into the net and that’s the set! Terrific composure from Djokovic to recover from that break. It’s as if it didn’t happen.
Musetti breaks: Musetti* 4-5 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Musetti recovers from 15-30 to 40-30, though he does get a helping hand from Djokovic, who nets a weak slice. There haven’t been many errors from Djokovic so far. Musetti holds from there – which leaves Djokovic serving for the set.
Musetti goes for one line and then the other and that’s a thunderous winner for 0-15! Musetti’s level is rising here, but it may be too late to turn the tide in this set. It looks that way when Djokovic gets to 40-15, two set points. but Musetti, unfazed, battles to deuce. And a deep stroke from Musetti draws the Djokovic error and it’s break point! Musetti whips a viciously spun forehand winner and they’re back on serve!
First set: Musetti* 2-5 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic hasn’t played since Monday after his walkover in the quarter-finals against Alex de Minaur, and the extra time off seems to have done him good, rather than derail him. He’s started this match sharply and efficiently, he’s making the right shot choices, he’s making Musetti run and run, and here’s another hold to 30. He’s looking as if he’s the 22-year-old out there right now.
Djokovic breaks: Musetti 2-4 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic seizes the initiative with the opening point on Musetti’s serve. And assumes more control by winning the second. 0-30, which is 0-40 when Djokovic approaches the net, hits a weak backhand volley, but then gets another chance on the forehand volley and puts it away. So the first break points of this match. And Djokovic succeeds on the second break point after the most of attritional of rallies is won at the net! He’s raising his arms to the crowd – it’s not clear whether he wants them to cheer or if he’s goading them. A few mock boos maybe follow – but there’s plenty of applause too.
Only thing not working for Novak so far is the drop shot on the forehand side – overhit all three – much better on backhand side, which he usually favours.
— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) July 12, 2024
First set: Musetti* 2-3 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic isn’t just trying to defy medical convention by reaching the Wimbledon final a month after knee surgery, he’s also trying to defy the passing of time. He’s just the third player aged 37 or over to play in a men’s singles grand slam semi-final, after Ken Rosewall and Federer. And if he wins the title on Sunday he’d be oldest men’s singles major champ in the Open era. Djokovic could be forgiven for thinking he’s playing Federer, when Musetti flashes a one-handed backhand winner down the line on the fifth point, but that’s the highlight for the Italian in this game, as Djokovic also holds to 30.
First set: Musetti 2-2 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Musetti, at 30-15 on serve, cuts himself up with his own slice as he goes wide. 30-all. Djokovic’s first little sniff on Musetti’s serve. But Musetti snuffs it out with a one-hander down the line. And takes the next two points to hold.
The fans aren’t booing Djokovic. They are are saying Mooo-setti. Except for elderly patron Hans Moleman, who is saying “Boo-urns.” #Wimbledon
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) July 12, 2024
First set: Musetti* 1-2 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic showcases the best of his attack and the best of his defence for 30-0. And then shows off the accuracy of his serve for 40-0. The crowd are definitely cheering for the underdog here, but I haven’t detected any real animosity towards Djokovic so far. Though he may well be hearing any Mooooo-settis as Booooo-settis. But I digress. Djokovic holds to 15.
First set: Musetti 1-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Nick Kyrgios, speaking on the BBC, says he was hitting with Djokovic yesterday, to help him prepare for this semi-final. “He wanted me to hit a lot of slices,” Kyrgios says. Musetti’s vicious slice is crucial to the way the Italian plays, and how well Djokovic deals with it will be a big factor in the outcome of this match. To underline that point, at 15-all on the Musetti serve, Djokovic rams one of those slices into the tramlines. 30-15, then 40-15 with an ace. And Musetti holds to 30.
First set: Musetti* 0-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic, serving first, wins the opening point a little fortuitously, when his shot clips the tape and trickles over. But Musetti, who’s hoping to draw inspiration from his fellow Italian Jasmine Paolini’s run to the women’s final, takes the second point after moving forward and finding a clever angle with the winner. A much longer third point – featuring Djokovic’s two-handed backhand v Musetti’s one-handed backhand slice – and on the 27th shot Djokovic pulls off a quite ridiculous backhand pass! 30-15, then 40-15. Musetti makes a move to deuce – but Djokovic dismisses the early danger to hold.
This is an intriguing match of contrasts: the artistic 22-year-old Italian playing in his first slam semi v the street-smart 37-year-old Serbian playing in his 49th; Musetti’s throwback one-handed backhand and slice v Djokovic’s modern brand of aggression and iron-clad defence.
As for their head-to-head, Djokovic leads it 5-1 – but that really doesn’t tell the whole story. Musetti has taken Djokovic to five sets twice at grand slams – going two sets to love up at the 2021 French Open – and then leading by two sets to one at the French Open last month, when Djokovic needed until 3.07 in the morning to finish off the Italian – the latest finish in the tournament’s history.
They step on to court, Musetti a few steps ahead. After Djokovic raged against the disrespect and booing he felt he was getting from Holger Rune fans on Monday, this blog’s extremely scientific boo-ometer hasn’t detected much booing yet.
And here Djokovic and Musetti come, for Musetti’s first grand slam semi-final and Djokovic’s 49th.
While we’re waiting for Novak Djokovic and Lorenzo Musetti, here’s a bit of women’s pre-final reading:
