Published on 12:00 AM, July 11, 2021

‘Anything is possible in the finals’

Novak Djokovic said he expects a "great battle" against Italian powerhouse Matteo Berrettini in Sunday's Wimbledon final when victory will earn the Serb a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam title. The 34-year-old maintained his imperious progress as he fought off Canadian Denis Shapovalov in three tight sets on Friday to move into his 30th Grand Slam final.

Seventh seed Berrettini will be contesting his first but Djokovic is fully aware that the 25-year-old who bangs down serves at close to 140mph is credible threat to his hopes of drawing level with Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal.

England play Italy in a momentous Euro 2020 soccer final a few miles away at Wembley on Sunday evening, but Djokovic believes that Berrettini, despite being Italian, will still get the majority of support from the British crowd as the underdog.

"Anything is possible in the finals," defending champion Djokovic, who has won five of his previous six Wimbledon finals including in 2018 and 2019, told reporters.

World number one Ash Barty became the first Australian woman to win the Wimbledon singles title in 41 years on Saturday when she defeated Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3 in the final. The 25-year-old Barty emulated her idol Evonne Goolagong who claimed the second of her All England Club titles in 1980. PHOTO: REUTERS