Novak Djokovic swept past Lorenzo Musetti on Friday to secure his place in the Wimbledon final against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, moving one win away from a record-setting 25th Grand Slam title. Just five weeks after knee surgery, Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, reached his 10th final at the All England Club with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 victory over the Italian 25th seed.
Alcaraz overcame Daniil Medvedev 6-7 (1/7), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to reach his fourth Grand Slam final. Djokovic, 37, aims to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles and become the tournament’s oldest champion of the modern era if he avenges last year’s final loss to Alcaraz.
“I have said it many times, Wimbledon has been a childhood dream for me to play and to win,” said Djokovic, who fled Serbia during the NATO bombing in the 1990s to train in Germany. “It is worth repeating I was a seven-year-old boy watching the bombs fly over my head and dreaming of being on the most important court in the world, which is here in Wimbledon.”
The last encounter between Djokovic and Musetti was at the French Open in June, where the Serb won in a third-round match that ended at 3:07 AM. On Friday, Djokovic was untroubled, advancing to his 37th Grand Slam final. He secured a break for a 4-2 lead in the first set, recovered after surrendering the advantage and missing two set points in the ninth game, and ultimately broke again in the 10th to claim the set.
Playing in his 49th Grand Slam semi-final, Djokovic’s experience proved crucial against 22-year-old Musetti, who was in his first. Djokovic bounced back from losing serve in the opening game of the second set to level in the sixth and dominated the tie-break. A break in the first game of the third set set Djokovic on the path to victory against a demoralized Musetti, who saved three match points before Djokovic sealed his place in the final.
“I feel a little sad, but I have to say Novak played an incredible match,” said Musetti. “He showed that he’s in great shape, not only in tennis but physically. We have played seven times, but I have never seen Novak play like this today.”
Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in the 2023 Wimbledon final in a five-set thriller and anticipates another challenging match. “Obviously, it will be a really difficult match,” said Alcaraz. “But I feel like I am not new anymore. I know how I am going to feel before the final. I have been in this position before.”
Alcaraz hit 55 winners to Medvedev’s 31 in his semi-final. Despite dropping the first set for the third time at this year’s Wimbledon, Alcaraz recovered impressively, breaking Medvedev for a 3-1 lead in the second set after a 27-shot rally. He dominated the third set, securing the only break in the third game. Although Medvedev retrieved a break early in the fourth set, Alcaraz maintained his assault, edging ahead again for 4-3 on his way to victory.
“Probably in my career he’s the toughest opponent I have faced. But I have time to try to do better,” said Medvedev after a fifth defeat in seven matches against Alcaraz.
Victory on Sunday would make Djokovic only the sixth man to win the French Open and Wimbledon titles back to back, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest in the sport.
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