Novak Djokovic sets up Wimbledon final rematch with Carlos Alcaraz, easily beats Lorenzo Musetti to reach first final of 2024
Novak Djokovic eased into the final of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships on Friday, getting past Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets in the semifinals. Interestingly, this will be the World No. 2's first final of the season.
Djokovic drew first blood in the clash, breaking Musetti's third service game to open up a 4-2 lead in the opening set. Although he earned a second break, the Italian earned one back, but it was not enough to thwart him from taking the set 6-3.
In the second set, it was Musetti who broke first, leading 2-0 after breaking Djokovic's first service game. However, the former World No. 1 soon leveled proceedings at 3-3, and then went on to take the set 7-6(2) in the tiebreaker.
The third set saw the 24-time Grand Slam champion start strong, breaking first for a 2-0 lead. Despite Musetti's brilliance on the day, there was no stopping Djokovic after that, as he coasted to a 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-4 win in a little under three hours on Center Court.
The former World No. 1 will now take on defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's final, a rematch of last year's Wimbledon final. Alcaraz prevailed in an epic five-setter back then to stun the Serb and win his maiden title at the Grass Major. This year, the 21-year-old is in the running to complete the Channel Slam -- winning the French Open and the Wimbledon titles back-to-back in the same calendar year.
Novak Djokovic leads Carlos Alcaraz in the head-to-head
Coming into the Wimbledon 2024 final, Novak Djokovic leads Carlos Alcaraz 3-2 in the head-to-head. The Serb has also won their last two matches on the trot, with the last one coming at the ATP Finals last year.
In Grand Slams, the record is 1-1, with Djokovic having won at the French Open in 2023. Speaking to the press after the loss to Alcaraz at Wimbledon last year, the World No. 2 was full of praise for his opponent for the way he kept his calm during the important moments in the clash.
"Credit to Carlos. Amazing poise in the important moments. For someone of his age to handle the nerves like this, be playing attacking tennis, and to close out the match the way he did... I thought I returned very well that last game, but he was just coming up with some amazing, amazing shots," Djokovic said.
"Yeah, congratulations to him and to his team. What a tournament for him. What a match today to be part of. I hope, yeah, everyone enjoyed it," he added.
A win on Sunday will give the 37-year-old his 25th Grand Slam title as well as his eighth title at SW19. On the other hand, Alcaraz is hunting for his fourth Major overall and 2nd at Wimbledon.