Wimbledon semi-finals: Djokovic to face Berrettini in final – live!

And here is Tumaini Carayol on Karolina Pliskova, who will meet Ashleigh Barty in tomorrow’s women’s singles final:

Here is our report, from Simon Cambers, of the first semi-final of the afternoon:

“Chronologically, this is already the closest anyone has been to a calendar Grand Slam since Laver,” writes Gregory. “Mats Wilander won the Australian and French in ’88 and lost in the Wimbledon quarters. I hope Berrettini can stop him, but I wouldn’t bet a penny on it.”

Berrettini was very, very impressive today. His first serve was rock-solid, so it will be interesting to see how much joy, if any, Djokovic will get from the Italian’s serve. Everything was Berrettini’s game was good, particularly his movement, which was vastly superior to Hurkacz, the man who had dismantled Federer and beaten Medvedev in five before that. But, no, I don’t think any of us would bet against Djokovic for Sunday.

Should Berrettini have mentioned Hurkacz post-match? I guess so: McEnroe reckoned that Berrettini was unhappy with the way the Polish player had interrupted the match at certain points, presumably trying to break up the Italian’s flow, for instance changing his shoes, or just walking off court for a break. So maybe that explains it.

Reminded that Sunday will be his 30th grand slam final, Djokovic continues: “It fills my heart when I learn there is something historic on the line … but I have to balance that with being in the moment, and trying to win the next match.”

A fan yells out again, while he’s in the middle of a sentence, trying to make himself heard.

“Sorry – I’ve been talking too much? I apologise. Thank you so much.”

The crowd chuckle. And that’s it. He’s gone.

Djokovic adds: “I try to get the most out of my abilities in every match … giving up is never an option.”

Novak Djokovic speaks: “I don’t think that the scoreline says enough about the match, about the performance [of Shapovalov] … he was serving for the first set, he was probably the better player for most of the second set, he had many chances. It’s the first grand slam semi-final for him and he was emotional … I would like to give him a big round of applause for everything he’s done today, and these few weeks … We’re going to see a lot of him in the future, definitely. He’s a great player.”

“I LOVE YOU NOVAK,” yells a fan.

“I love you too,” he replies.

The relentless Serb rounds off a straight-sets win with another punishing service game. In tears, Denis Shapovalov puts down his kit bag and applauds the fans before walking off. Djokovic beats his chest and whips up the crowd.

“In those critical moments, he showed his class,” says Henman of Djokovic. Sure did.

“I agree with Matt Dony,” writes James. “Djokovic is amazing in the tight points – better than anyone else I’ve ever seen. But for me the two intriguing questions are how much longer can Djoker stay on top and who comes next. As Maya Angelou says, every storm runs out of rain. Shapo seems to have good nerves. With a bit more maturity and better shot selection, he might really be something.”

Djokovic* 7-6 (3), 6-5, 6-5 Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

Shapovalov double-faults to open his latest service game. He then misdirects a forehand wide for 0-30. But incredibly, he smashes his way to 15-30, then crushes one of the shots of the match down the line, with total precision, to take it back to 30-30.

Next up – it’s a double fault – and Djokovic had another break point. Shapovalov, again, is not taking a backward step and he powers an unreturnable forehand to Djokovic’s forehand side. Then another error hands Djokovic a break point – Shapovalov hits long – and Djokovic’s eyes bulge as he roars at his team up in the stand.

Djokovic will serve for the match, and a place in his 30th grand slam final.

Djokovic 7-6 (3), 6-5, 5-5 *Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

The world No 1 rounds off another comfortable hold with a drop shot that is all class.

Djokovic* 7-6 (3), 6-5, 4-5 Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

An impressively strong service game from the young challenger – and Djokovic will serve to stay in this third set. The crowd are willing Shapovalov to take this into a fourth set. It feels like he’s settled his game down a bit, and is playing a little more sensibly, as some of you have been asking him to do on email.

Djokovic 7-6 (3), 6-5, 4-4 *Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

Djokovic serves. Djokovic holds, to love. We are all square in the third set. Shapovalov remains a dangerous opponent for Djokovic, one to be handled with care. But the Serb seems to be in control, despite losing his footing a few minutes ago.

“Djokovic is comfortably my least favourite of the big three, but that is absolutely irrelevant,” writes Matt Dony. “He is the most complete, the most solid, and realistically, probably the best. I don’t know how many matches I’ve seen him play, like today, where for long spells it looks completely even. And yet he’ll likely wrap it up in straight sets. He has an awesome, uncanny knack of wrapping up tight sets. It’s obscene. He doesn’t need the elegant artistry of Federer. He has inhuman mental strength and composure. He just gets on with it, and wins.”

Djokovic* 7-6 (3), 6-5, 3-4 Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

A break point arrives for Djokovic at 30-40. At the end of a searing exchange, with both players hitting sweetly, Shapovalov produces a jaw-dropping backhand winner to force it to deuce. Djokovic immediately grabs another break point – Shapovalov comes to the net and volleys excellently to save it – so it’s back to deuce again. The Canadian then finds a couple of big serves and it’s a huge hold of serve. Djokovic is now at 2/8 break points, his opponent still with 1/11. If this match is going to go deep, the 22-year-old has to convert one or two of these break points.

Djokovic 7-6 (3), 7-5, 3-3 *Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

Djokovic holds serve, with a minimum of fuss, for 3-3.

“Shapovalov is not going to beat Djokovic playing within himself,” emails Ben. “He has to go for it, and (as you say) it’s so nearly working for him!”

He’s just tightened up a bit on the big points, the break points, and that has cost him.

But we should not be too harsh. I mean, what were we all doing when we were 22? We weren’t playing in a Wimbledon semi-final on Centre Court.

Djokovic* 7-6 (3), 7-5, 2-3 Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

A classic Shapovalov game, featuring one butchered forehand, soon followed by a swashbuckling, fearless volleyed winner hit on the run. The 22-year-old holds in the fifth game of the third set.

“He goes for broke,” Boris Becker says of the young Canadian. “He has no neutral game.”

Djokovic 7-6 (3), 7-5, 2-2 *Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

A simple Serb hold and it’s 2-2 in the third.

Djokovic* 7-6 (3), 7-5, 1-2 Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

Shapovalov, suddenly, is 15-40 down on his serve and Djok smells blood. The youngster admirably fights back for deuce, however, and then saves yet another break point on a Djokovic advantage … and eventually the Canadian grabs the game with a fine wide serve. He’s playing like a, well, like a 22-year-old pro tennis player who enjoys taking on his shots and just going for it.

“Shapovalov needs to stop overhitting the ball, instead of going for winners he should try and prolong the rallies,” emails Andrew. “Try and get more control over the ball, move Novak around the court and finish with a volley/dropshot. Even try and serve and volley, throw Novak off his rhythm.”

I hear you, but in a battle of attrition, there is only one winner. I guess Shapo’s game plan is to nip the points in the bud. The frustrating thing for him, and his fans, is that it’s so nearly worked.

Djokovic 7-6 (3), 7-5, 1-1 *Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

After another punishing exchange of strokes from the baseline, Shapovalov hits wide, and it’s Djokovic’s game. The Canadian has had 11 break points in this match, and he has won one of them. You’re not going to beat Djokovic like that, you are just not, even if he’s amazing to watch at times.

Djokovic* 7-6 (3), 7-5, 0-1 Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

This is like a stuck record, or Centre Court’s equivalent of Groundhog Day. Shapovalov finds himself at 15-40 on the Djokovic serve, enjoying two break points. I say enjoying: naturally, he ends up losing them, and it’s back to deuce again … but Denis remains a menace, and crunches a beautiful angled forehand to the corner, setting up yet another break point. Djokovic, predictably enough, saves it with an ace. The Serb forces advantage, and after another attritional point, Djok nets an easy-looking volley and wastes a chance to take the game!

Shapovalov has hit 27 winners to Djokovic’s 21, which shows you that he’s been willing to take it on. But, of course, the world No 1 has won more of the points that really count: he’s taken two out of the three break points he has won, with just one out of eight for Shapovalov.

Djokovic* 7-6 (3), 7-5, 0-1 Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

The Canadian tyro gets off the mark in the third set with an easy-enough hold of serve.

Here’s Tumaini Carayol, writing about Karolina Pliskova’s progress into tomorrow’s women’s singles final:

Djokovic, ominously, moves two sets to the good. Shapovalov is currently losing his mind with the umpire about something – an early call from a line judge? A late call?

Anyway, Shapovalov has clearly passed up chances to punish his opponent, and Djokovic is well on course.

Big Suze from Peep Show is pictured chatting away in the Royal Box.

Djokovic* 7-6 (3), 6-5 Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

Whoops. An unforced error from 30-30 on the Canadian’s serve gives Djok a break point. Shapovalov double faults and hands his opponent a gift-wrapped break of serve. On a silver platter.

Djokovic will serve for the second set.

I’ll tell you one thing: I’m looking forward to seeing how Shapovalov plays when the pressure is off, and he feels he can start going for a few shots.

“We all know Shapovalov’s chance came and went with that flubbed attempt to get to set point,” writes Gregory. “He had two chances, slim and none, and as Don King used to say, Slim’s left town.”

I think a lot of people would agree.

Djokovic 7-6 (3), 5-5 *Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

All square again in the second set. The match has settled into some kind of rhythm. “The Shap” continues to take shots on all over the place. Djokovic continues to give nothing away. Somehow they are ending up even, but you still fancy the Serb to win the points that count.

“Hello, Luke. Thank you for the rapid analysis at a time when we in the US are still pretending to work and so not actually watching the match,” writes Steve.

“I had the great good fortune to see both Shapovalov and Tsitsipas play on the same day, the last day of qualifying for the US Open a few years ago. (Denis qualiified and Stefanos didn’t, if I recall correctly.) So the main thought that came to my mind as Shapovalov looked to be winning the first set was: Ask Stefanos Tsitsipas what a strong early lead over Novak Djokovic gets you.”

Djokovic* 7-6 (3), 4-5 Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

A little pressure on Shapovalov to hold now, but he finds a big serve at 40-30 and closes the game out.

“Chapeau to Shapo?” emails TJ Floyd.

Like it.

Djokovic 7-6 (3), 4-4 *Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

Djok holds easily and we have parity again in the second set.

“I don’t think trying to just hit through Djokovic is a viable strategy in a 5 setter,” says Abhi. “He developed his return game when Federer and Nadal were in their primes. As good as these kids are, none of them are hitting like the old owls here. Maybe they should all take a leaf out Djokovic’s book now and try to up their return and tactical game, as he with time has matched Fedal’s record.”

Djokovic* 7-6 (3), 3-4 Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

It’s another fine service game from the Canadian. The players sit down for a drink. Shapovalov cracks a big smile as he bounces his knees with pent-up energy while sitting in his chair. He certainly doesn’t look fazed by the occasion – and he’s getting tonnes of support from the vocal crowd on Centre Court. Djokovic will now serve, trying to level it up again at 4-4.

“Hello from Canada! Thanks for the tennis coverage,” writes Steve. “What’s the banana count for Shapo? They’re his source of power, it seems. Ironic because they’re not native to our country. I’d expect maple syrup to be consumed.”

I’m afraid ‘banana count’ is not included in the live stats. Sorry.

Djokovic 7-6 (3), 3-3 *Shapovalov (*denotes next server)

The Canadian continues to take on his shots. The Canadian continues to make inroads on the Djokovic serve … He finds himself with two break points at 15-40 after a long, long rally of exceedingly high quality, the Serb eventually choking up an error by hitting wide. But again, with what feels like an open goal, the errors creep back into the Canadian’s game and Djokovic comes back to parity thanks to some sloppiness from Shapovalov.

Now we go back to deuce, from Djokovic’s advantage, as the Canadian crafts a wonderful winner down the line … but an improvised volley at the net from the Serb and he has advantage yet again. He closes it out with an ace. That was the best game of the match – but it’s another massive, massive chance gone for the Canadian.