Wimbledon 2021: Novak Djokovic defeats Matteo Berrettini to win 20th Grand Slam title, cools on commitment to Tokyo Olympics

Novak Djokovic was committed to competing at the Olympics, but a recent development has seen the world number one change his tune.

Novak Djokovic cooled on his commitment to the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday saying he was a “50/50” chance to participate.

“I’ll have to think about it. As I said, my plan was always to go to the Olympic Games,” Djokovic said.

“But right now I’m a little bit divided. It’s kind of 50/50 because of what I heard in the last couple of days.”

The world number one claimed a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam title and sixth Wimbledon win with a 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Italy’s Matteo Berrettini.

The Serb had always insisted he would think twice if the Covid-19 protocols in Japan became too strict and if fans were banned.

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Novak Djokovic said he is ‘50/50’ to compete at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: AFP

Two days ago, it was announced that even domestic fans will be barred from all venues.

Foreign visitors had already been barred as had family members of visiting athletes.

“That was really disappointing to hear. I also hear that there’s going to be a lot of restrictions within the Village,” he said.

“Possibly you would not be able to see other athletes perform live. “I can’t even have my stringer that is a very important part of my team. I’m limited with the amount of people I can take in my team as well. I’ll have to think about it.”

Fellow stars Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Dominic Thiem have already said they will not take part in the Olympics while Roger Federer has remarked he remains in two minds.

Is Djokovic now GOAT after record-equalling win?

Novak Djokovic said he considers himself the “best player” after winning a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam title, but refuses to anoint himself as the “greatest of all time”.

The 34-year-old went to 20 majors alongside Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal courtesy of a sixth Wimbledon title, secured by a 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Italy’s Matteo Berrettini on Monday morning (AEST).

If he wins a fourth US Open in September, he will become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the calendar Grand Slam and just the third in history.

“I consider myself best and I believe that I am the best, otherwise I wouldn’t be talking confidently about winning Slams and making history,” Djokovic said after the win.

“But whether I’m the greatest of all time or not, I leave that debate to other people.

“I said before that it’s very difficult to compare the eras of tennis. We have different racquets, technology, balls, courts. It’s just completely different conditions that we’re playing in, so it’s very hard to compare from 50 years ago to today.

“However, I am extremely honoured to definitely be part of the conversation.”

Novak Djokovic after his record-equalling 20th Grand Slam victory. Picture: Peter Nicholls/Getty Images.

A sixth victory at the All England Club for Djokovic, who was playing in his 30th final at the Slams, added to his nine Australian Opens, two Roland Garros titles as well as three at the US Open.

Should he win a fourth title in New York in September, he will become just the third man in history after Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) to complete the calendar Grand Slam.

Despite his caution, Djokovic knows he has time and momentum on his side. At 34, he is a year younger than Nadal and has the best part of six years on Federer who turns 40 in four weeks’ time.

Nadal skipped Wimbledon after losing to Djokovic in the French Open semi-finals last month.

Federer made a quarter-final exit at the All England Club.

And eight of Djokovic’s 20 Slams have been won since he turned 30. He has also won seven of the last eight Grand Slam finals he has contested, with his only defeat in that time coming against Nadal at the French Open last year.

Congrats Novak on your 20th major. I'm proud to have the opportunity to play in a special era of tennis champions. Wonderful performance, well done!

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) July 11, 2021

Congrats @DjokerNole on this amazing achievement. 20 Grand Slam titles is huge and it is amazing that we are 3 players tied on this. Well done and, again, congrats to you and your team for this!@Wimbledon

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) July 11, 2021

Goran Ivanisevic, the 2001 Wimbledon champion and now part of Djokovic’s coaching team, insists there is “no debate” over who is the greatest.

“For me Novak is the best ever. He’s writing history. He’s going to do it in the US Open. I strongly believe he’s going to do it, he’s going to win all four in one year. Then I think story’s over,” Ivanisevic said

“For me it was over a long time ago. Between these three guys, 60 Grand Slams.

“It’s unreal. For me, not because I’m here, before I was a member of the team, for me he was the best.

“If he wins the US Open, I think it’s over. He wants to win more. But for me Novak is the biggest ever. I don’t even have to debate about that.”

Djokovic celebrates with his team after defeating Italy's Matteo Berrettini. Picture: Adrian DENNIS / AFP

There was a time when it was believed Pete Sampras’s total of 14 majors would never be bettered.

But Federer went to 15 Slams with victory in the 2009 Wimbledon final and reached 20 at the 2018 Australian Open.

Djokovic was on 12 Slams at that stage. Since then, he has also passed Federer for total weeks as world number one.

“I probably started thinking about trying to reach the record of most Grand Slams won, most weeks at No. 1 historically, probably about two to three years ago,” Djokovic said.

“Before that it seemed a little bit out of reach. I’ve always kind of believed that I could play my best tennis in Grand Slams and give myself a good chance to win any slam really on any surface because I know what I’m capable of.

“But only the last two-and-a-half, three years I started to realise that actually I can reach the most weeks of No.1s, which was my primary goal actually in the last two years, and also Grand Slams.”

Djokovic won in four sets. Picture: Simon Bruty/Getty Images

Berrettini says it’s just the beginning for him. Picture: Simon Bruty/Getty Images

Djokovic overcame a nervy start to break for 3-1, which he stretched to 5-2. He even had a set point in a marathon eighth game which the Italian saved after eight deuces.

Reinvigorated, he broke Djokovic when he served for the set and then dominated the tiebreaker which he sealed with his fourth ace of the contest.

The top seed stormed to a 5-1 lead in the second set on the back of a double break.

Berrettini, bidding to be Italy’s first men’s Grand Slam winner since Adriano Panatta at the 1976 French Open, clawed his way back to 4-5, saving three set points, but Djokovic this time served it out for a set apiece.

Djokovic struck first again for a 2-1 lead in the third set and fought off three break points in the sixth game, a show of defiance which brought watching Hollywood star Tom Cruise to his feet.

That was Berrettini’s last chance of the set as Djokovic served it out in the 10th game.

A weary Berrettini then served up a double fault on break point to hand Djokovic a 4-3 lead in the fourth set.

Djokovic kept coming, sprinting from the back of the court to pull off a wondrous pick-up and he held on for 5-3.

Berrettini, hoping to be Italy’s first singles champion at Wimbledon, saved two championship points in the eighth game.

But he was powerless on the third as Djokovic swept to his place in history.

“It is not the end, it is the beginning for me,” Berrettini said.

“Without my family, friends and team all this would not have been possible so I just say Grazie Grazie.”

Originally published as Wimbledon 2021: Novak Djokovic defeats Matteo Berrettini to win 20th Grand Slam title, cools on commitment to Tokyo Olympics