Western Daily Press (Saturday)
> Novak Djokovic was pushed hard by Roberto Bautista Agut, but ultimately came through his Wimbledon semi-final
TETCHY Novak Djokovic booked his place in the final after putting an end to the Wimbledon party of Roberto Bautista Agut.
The reigning champion overcame a slump midway through the semi-final, which saw him bait the Centre Court crowd, to win 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 and reach a sixth SW19 showpiece and 25th overall in grand slams.
This match was always billed as the appetiser to the main event – the second last-four clash between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal – and it provided suitable entertainment to whet the appetite.
Bautista Agut, playing in his first grand slam semi-final, has had to delay his stag do in Ibiza this week due to his unexpected run in the tournament, but he showed he was not ready for his time in London to end just yet.
He outplayed the world number one in the second set to level the match up, much to the delight of the crowd, which in turned irked Djokovic.
But an angry Djokovic is often an unplayable one and he whizzed through the final two sets to move to within one win of a fifth crown at the All England Club.
Djokovic said aftewards: “To be
in another final is a dream come true. To be playing the final at Wimbledon is definitely an experience I will enjoy.
“He (Bautista Agut) was not overwhelmed with the occasion – he played really well.”
Federer and Nadal’s game was still in progress as the Daily Press deadline passed.
Simona Halep is confident she can upset the odds against Serena Williams and land a first-ever Wimbledon title.
The numbers do not stack up in the Romanian’s favour ahead of today’s final, with Williams eyeing an eighth title and a record-equalling 24th grand slam singles win.
Halep has one grand slam to her name, the French Open last year, and has beaten Williams only once in ten meetings, losing the last six.
Williams, 37, was close to her ruthless best when dispatching Barbora Strycova 6-1, 6-2 in the semi-final, but Halep was almost as impressive in her 6-1, 6-3 win over Elina Svitolina, and the seventh seed says she is ready to grasp her big opportunity.
She said: “Everything is possible. I’m in the final, so I will not put pressure on myself. I’m desperate to win Wimbledon more than to stop her. I will focus on myself. I’m not thinking about her record. It’s just a tennis match, a big challenge, a great match.”