Djokovic's Wimbledon win ties Slam record
Novak Djokovic picked up a record-tying 20th Grand Slam title on Sunday, defeating Italy's Matteo Berrettini 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in the Wimbledon final in London.
The top-seeded Djokovic's sixth Wimbledon title and third straight ties him with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the most men's Grand Slam singles titles.
“Winning Wimbledon was a big dream as a kid, and I have to remind myself how special this is and not take this for granted,” Djokovic said. “From a seven-year boy constructing an improvised trophy from materials in my room, and today standing here with a sixth Wimbledon trophy, it's incredible.”
Having also won the Australian Open and French Open this year, Djokovic can complete the calendar slam and break a three-way tie with Federer and Nadal at the U.S. Open, which begins on Aug. 30.
“I've mentioned this before many times, I have to pay a great tribute to Roger and Rafa,” said Djokovic. “I think they are the reason where I am today, they helped me to improve mentally, physically, tactically. When I broke into the top 10 I lost most of the matches against these two guys. The last 10 years have been an incredible journey that is not stopping here.”
Making his Grand Slam debut, Berrettini, the first Italian to advance to a Wimbledon singles final, fell behind 5-2 in the first set but rallied to force a tiebreak and take the early lead.
For Djokovic, 34, it was the first set he had lost since the first round of the tournament, when he also rallied from an 0-1 start.
It was the 30th career Grand Slam final for Djokovic, one shy of Federer's record.
Meanwhile, Australia's Ash Barty was a woman on a mission at Wimbledon this year, downing Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3 in Saturday's women's final.
It was Australia's first women's Wimbledon singles champion in 41 years, when Barty's idol Evonne Goolagong claimed the second of her All England Club titles in 1980.
Barty's triumph came on the 50th anniversary of Goolagong's first Wimbledon title.