By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, July 10, 2015
Novak Djokovic dissected Richard Gasquet, 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4, to cruise into his third straight Wimbledon final and fourth overall.
Photo credit: CameraSport/Stephen White
Hammering his heart with his clenched fist, Novak Djokovic punched up his intensity for the first-set tie break.
The defending champion wears a bulls-eye on his back, but struck with conviction keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the target today.
Djokovic dismantled French foil Richard Gasquet, 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4, to cruise into his third straight Wimbledon final.
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The world No. 1 broke once in each set and largely neutered Gasquet's net game by asserting his own front-court skills. Djokovic won 26 of 39 trips to net, was nearly untouchable on first serve during the final two sets and downplayed the severity of an apparent left shoulder strain that required treatment during a changeover.
All in all, it was largely a clean and controlled performance against an opponent he has owned on all surfaces. Djokovic raised his record to 12-1 against the two-time semifinalist.
"It was a very good performance considering the occasion," Djokovic told the BBC afterward. "Obviously, semifinals is always tough no matter who I play against. Richard had a great tournament, deserved to be in the semis. Things could have gone his way also in the first set. I think that was the turning point for me."
The two-time champion will face second-seeded Roger Federer in Sunday's final that is a rematch of the 2014 final. Seven-time champion Federer played brilliant attacking tennis defeating third-seeded Andy Murray, 7-5, 7-5, 6-4, in the day's second semifinal.
A year ago, Djokovic defeated Federer, 6-7 (7), 6-4, 7-6 (4) 5-7, 6-4 in a pulsating final. Federer has dispatched two of the game's sharpest returners, Gilles Simon and Murray, in succession and has surrendered serve just once in the fortnight.
Years of torment from the Serbian has created layers of scar tissue in Gasquet, who had lost 20 of the last 21 sets against the top seed after scoring his lone win in the 2007 Tennis Masters Cup. Entering this encounter after his epic, 11-9 in the fifth-set win over Roland Garros champion Stan Wawrinka, Gasquet knew he couldn't win a grinding match against Djokovic. He tried to use his slice backhand, soft hands and net skills to try to unsettle Djokovic, who started quickly breaking in Gasquet's opening service game.
Varying the depth and angle of his slice to keep the ball low and deny Djokovic a rhythm, Gasquet broke back for 1-2. Djokovic spent some time slipping and sliding on patches of the slick green lawn chasing down some of the Frenchman's twisting backhands.
At 4-all, Gasquet had a routine high forehand volley into the open court, but pushed that shot a few inches wide, prompting a collective gasp from the crowd. It was a costly miss that would have given him 0-30 on the Serbian's serve. The top seed thumped an ace down the middle holding at 15 for 5-4. Gasquet managed just six games against Djokovic in last month's Roland Garros thrashing; when he whipped a one-handed pass down the line past the lunging Serbian—his eighth backhand winner—he leveled 5-all.
They traded mini breaks in the tie break then a jittery Gasquet lost the plot, spitting up three straight errors. A delicate drop volley winner gave Djokovic four set points. He needed only one, sliding an ace wide to win the 53-minute opener.
Holding the lead loosened up the two-time champion, who spun a clean forehand pass breaking to open the second set. Moving forward with more frequency, Djokovic applied pressure with aggressive court positioning.
Still, there were complications. After Gasquet held for 3-4, Djokovic called for the trainer, who worked out the strains on his left shoulder as he sat on his courtside seat.
"It's nothing that worries me, honestly, it will be fine for the next match," Djokovic said of his shoulder issues.
Serving for a two-set lead, Djokovic got down 15-30, but banged his ninth ace out wide for 30-all, slid his 10th ace down the T for set point and snatched a two-set lead when Gasquet floated a forehand beyond the baseline.
By the time Djokovic broke in the third game of the third set, he was firmly in charge. Stepping into the court, Djokovic often hit the ball on the rise taking time away from his opponent. The serve was a key stroke: Djokovic won 17 of 21 first-serve points in the second set and 16 of 18 points on his first delivery in the third set.
A sharp-angled backhand volley brought the champion a second match point, but Gasquet saved it with a running forehand in the corner. The Frenchman refused to leave the stage without another scene-stealing moment guiding a forehand winner around the net post for a game point, then holding for 4-5.
Spinning a forehand crosscourt to close in two hours, 22 minutes, Djokovic tapped the grass with the palm of his hand with a third Wimbledon trophy now within reach.
"I have a responsibility to play well and I'm just glad to reach the final," said Djokovic, who is 8-8 in 16 career Grand Slam finals. "If you look at the names and legends and the elite group of players who were playing the final of this great event, of course it is a great honor and privilege to be out there. I need to keep going."