Thanks for tuning into Sportstar's live coverage of the men's singles semifinal at Wimbledon 2022.
This was Nihit Sachdeva taking you through the action as it unfolded on Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, United Kingdom.
| Novak Djokovic | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Cameron Norrie | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
Novak Djokovic reaches a record 32nd Grand Slam final. In the summit clash, the Serbian World No. 3 will face the Australian maverick and maiden Grand Slam finalist Nick Kyrgios on Sunday.
FOURTH SET (* denotes server)
Djokovic* 6-4 Norrie: Novak Djokovic serving for the match. Loose error from Norrie on second serve of the Serbian. He managed to get the return in but then ended up hitting one heavy forehand. Nice and deep return from Norrie and Djokovic’s forehand barely rises from the ground. Djokovic goes 30-15 up with an ace down the T. Heavy backhand from Norrie on Djokovic’s wide serve and it is match point opportunity for the Serbian. Perfect serve from Djokovic down the T and Norrie barely gets his racquet on it. Eighth Wimbledon final for Novak Djokovic who’ll face first-time Grand Slam finalist Nick Kyrgios of Australia on Sunday!!!
Djokovic 5-4 Norrie*: Norrie serving to stay in the set and match. Perfect start - ace. A few quick errors from the Serbian and Norrie does what he needed to do. However, he has to do now what he hasn’t done for the last two sets - break Djokovic’s serve.
Djokovic* 5-3 Norrie: Two aces, a forehand winner. Serve held. Cameron Norrie, your turn!
Djokovic 4-3 Norrie*: Cameron Norrie starts off with an ace. Incredible forehand down the line winner at 30-15 from Norrie at the end of which he manages to stop just before hitting the chair umpire. Norrie holds.
Djokovic* 4-2 Norrie: Just a regular Novak Djokovic two-minute love hold service game.
Djokovic 3-2 Norrie*: Cameron Norrie has kept the hopes of an entire nation alive by saving three break points during a 10-minute service game which he finally wins with an overhead smash.
Djokovic* 3-1 Norrie: The Centre Court is urging the local lad to fight but Djokovic is leaving nothing to chance. Serve hold after conceding just one point, that too he made sure that Norrie had to fight hard for it.
Djokovic 2-1 Norrie*: Well, well. Now this has happened for the first time in this match - love hold for Norrie.
Djokovic* 2-0 Norrie: Djokovic can do no wrong at this point - backhand volley winner, strong first serve and then a forehand volley winner - 40-0 up. Another heavy forehand from Norrie and Djokovic holds without much fuss.
Djokovic 1-0 Norrie*: Norrie serves first in this crucial fourth set. Norrie starts off well going 30-0 up. However, Djokovic looks in the mood to end things in this set. Backhand error from Norrie and Djokovic has a break point opportunity. Deep cross court forehand return from the Serbian and Norrie’s forehand lands beyond the baseline. Djokovic breaks!!
THIRD SET (* denotes server)
Djokovic* 6-2 Norrie: Weak backhand return from Norrie on Djokovic’s second serve - 15-all. A blistering ace down the T from Djokovic to go 40-15 up and earn two set point chances. Deep cross court backhand from Djokovic finds Norrie in an awkward position who hits the forehand into the net. Djokovic wins the third set 6-2 and takes a 2-1 lead!
Djokovic 5-2 Norrie*: Norrie to serve to stay in the set. The Brit gets himself out of jail at 30-30 with a clever backhand down the line winner before a booming serve draws a heavy return from the Serbian. Djokovic will serve for the set.
Djokovic* 5-1 Norrie: Djokovic makes a forehand error on the first point but makes up for it by winning the next four to come within one game of taking a 2-1 lead in this semifinal.
Djokovic 4-1 Norrie*: Norrie’s forehand damages his service game. Djokovic up by double break now.
Djokovic* 3-1 Norrie: Norrie does manage to draw out a forehand error from the Serbian but that’s all he can do. Djokovic belts out two aces from 30-15 to hold serve.
Djokovic 2-1 Norrie*: Two scintillating forehand winners from Norrie. Much needed service hold for the Brit.
Djokovic* 2-0 Norrie: Djokovic’s first service game in the third set. Norrie makes an absolute miss of the overhead on the final point. Another love hold for the Serbian. Consolidates the break with ease.
Djokovic 1-0 Norrie*: Norrie to serve first in the third set. Norrie’s movement does not seem the same after a slip midway through the last set. Djokovic straight away puts the pressure on him and goes 40-30 up. Ouch!! Norrie wrongfoots the Serbian with a slice down the line. Djokovic does send the return but ends up falling on his back and Norrie finishes the point with the forehand smash. Norrie did not look confident at all and it costs him. Djokovic breaks!
SECOND SET (* denotes server)
Djokovic* 6-3 Norrie: Djokovic to serve for the set. And guess what - he starts off with a double fault. Norrie up 30-0 after Djokovic hits a poor drop shot which goes only as far as the net. No worries for the defending champion though as he reels off three straight points to earn a set point opportunity. Norrie hits the backhand long and Djokovic squares things up by taking the second set 6-3. Game on!
Djokovic 5-3 Norrie*: An ace down the T to start the service game for Norrie. A heavy forehand from the Brit goes flying past the baseline. Norrie has somehow managed to hit the simplest of the backhand volleys wide to go 15-30 down. Another volley error from Norrie. Djokovic breaks first in this second set after Norrie’s forehand goes long.
Djokovic* 4-3 Norrie: Djokovic has well and truly upped his game from the first set. Another love hold.
Djokovic 3-3 Norrie*: Strong serve down the T from Norrie, Djokovic’s backhand return lands just ahead of the net and the Brit finishes the point with a forehand winner down the centre. At 15-all, Norrie hits an easy overhead into the net. A wayward forehand shot from Norrie gives Djokovic one break point chance. However, Norrie saves it as he serves out wide and Djokovic’s backhand return just misses the baseline. Unforced errors on the forehand from Norrie are undoing all the good work he has done so far - another chance to break for Djokovic. Norrie saves it again as Djokovic’s forehand fails to go over the net - deuce. Norries follows it up with an ace and a Djokovic error on the forehand means the British world number 12 holds serve. Only just.
Djokovic* 3-2 Norrie: Djokovic with another comfortable hold. Norrie started off with an overhead winner but post that, it was Djokovic who dictated the rallies and forced Norrie to commit the errors.
Djokovic 2-2 Norrie*: Big serving from Norrie. First one draws out a heavy forehand from Djokovic and the second one goes past him. Norrie did all the hard work but Djokovic’s perseverance made him hit one more shot and he hit that wide. Break point chance for Djokovic after Norrie goes for a needless drop shot which does not cross the net. Norrie saves it with a thunderous forehand winner despite the Serbian’s relentless defending at the baseline. Ace down the T and now, Norrie has a game point. Norrie holds as Djokovic’s forehand return hits the net.
Djokovic* 2-1 Norrie: Another clean game for the Serbian. Follows three forehand errors from the Brit with an overhead winner.
Djokovic 1-1 Norrie*: First serve game for Norrie. Djokovic would have fancied his chances at 30-40 but Norrie managed to avoid danger. One-all.
Djokovic* 1-0 Norrie: Djokovic to serve first in the second set first but this time, with a cap on his head. Calm and composed, the Serbian holds serve without conceding a point.
FIRST SET (* denotes server)
Djokovic 2-6 Norrie*: Norrie serves for the set. More mistakes from World No. 3 Djokovic - a backhand and a forehand error. Norrie hits a double fault and then follows it up with an ace to earn two set point opportunities. Another double fault. One more chance. Can he take it? Yes, he can!!! A superb ace down the T to take the opening set 6-2 in 32 minutes
Djokovic* 2-5 Norrie: Djokovic starts off with an ace but follows it up with two uncharacteristic forehand errors. Norrie anticipates the slice, rushes in and hits the passing forehand that lands inside the baseline to earn two break point opportunities. Norrie is up by a double break. Exciting duel between Djokovic’s forehand and Norrie’s backhand and in the end, it is the local favourite who triumphs as the Serbian hits the final forehand into the net.
Djokovic 2-4 Norrie*: Some lovely forehand shots from Norrie to keep the rally alive and he eventually seals the point with a forehand winner down the line 15-all. Serve down the T from Norrie and Djokovic’s backhand return goes long. Norrie serves it to Djokovic’s forehand who hits it bang into the net. Norrie consolidates the break.
Djokovic* 2-3 Norrie: Djokovic to serve. Norrie with a break point opportunity at 40-30 as Djokovic overcooks the inside-out forehand for the second time in the game. Norrie breaks again as this time, it is the backhand from the Serbian that proves to have too much in it.
Djokovic 2-2 Norrie*: Looks like we already have a contender for rally of the match. Norrie had executed the lob perfectly only to see Djokovic come up with the tweener that went over 6’2” Brit and landed inside the baseline. Norrie somehow got the return to go over the net but the Serbian was ready and hit a beautiful volley. One backhand costs Norrie, another finds the corner to win a point - 30-all. Norrie, somehow, holds serve.
Djokovic* 2-1 Norrie: Normal service resumes for the Serbian. Two forehand winners and two aces to seal the service game.
Djokovic 1-1 Norrie*: Norrie to serve to consolidate the break. Forehand return from Djokovic comes quickly at Norrie at the centre of the baseline and his backhand does not get the elevation to go over the net - 15-all. Backhand error again from the Brit and in no time, Djokovic has two break points. Unforced error on the forehand from Norrie and he lets go of the advantage just like that.
Djokovic* 0-1 Norrie: A seven-shot rally on Djokovic’s second serve and it’s Norrie who wins the opening point courtesy of a backhand error from the defending champion. Another error from the Serbian, this time the forehand goes long. Trouble for Djokovic as he hits the backhand into the net and trails 15-40. Norrie wastes first break point as he overhits the cross court backhand and the ball lands beyond the baseline. Norrie gets the early break after winning the battle of volleys.
7:50PM: Warm up is done. Game time!!!
7:44PM: Both semifinalists have stepped onto the Centre Court. Djokovic wins the toss and elects to serve.
7:40PM: Records on offer:-
- Win today will see Djokovic progress to a record 32nd Grand Slam men’s singles final
- If Norrie wins today, he will become the 2nd British man in the Open Era to reach a Wimbledon final – after Murray, who has reached 3 final here – and just the 4th British man in the Open Era to reach the final at a Grand Slam.
7:32PM: How Djokovic and Norrie have reached the semifinal
| Round | Djokovic | Norrie |
| 1st | beat S. Kwon 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 | beat P. Andujar 6-0, 7-6 (3), 6-3 |
| 2nd | beat T. Kokkinakis 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 | beat J. Munar 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 |
| 3rd | beat M. Kecmanovic 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 | beat S. Johnson 6-4, 6-1, 6-0 |
| 4th | beat T. Van Rijthoven 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 | beat T. Paul 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 |
| Quarterfinal | beat J. Sinner 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 | beat D. Goffin 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 |
7:25PM: Djokovic vs Norrie. Defending champion vs the British hope. Centre Court is ready for a spectacle. Live action in a few minutes from now.
MATCH PREVIEW
While Australian maverick Nick Kyrgios enjoys a day off following Rafa Nadal's withdrawal, Novak Djokovic will bid to continue his Wimbledon juggernaut against local hope Cameron Norrie in the lone men's semi-final on Friday.
The 27-year-old Kyrgios will have four days of rest before he plays his maiden major final against Djokovic or Norrie after his semi-final opponent Nadal was forced to pull out due to an abdominal injury on Thursday.
Djokovic, a 20-times major winner, has not lost a contest on the manicured lawns at the All England Club since he retired mid-match with an injury in the 2017 quarter-final against Czech Tomas Berdych.
A win over Britain's ninth seed Norrie would put the 35-year-old Djokovic into an unprecedented 32nd men's Grand Slam singles final and keep his bid alive for a fourth straight and seventh overall title at Wimbledon.
If he lifts the Challenge Cup again, Djokovic will also close in on nearest rival and 22-times major winner Nadal on the Grand Slam count.
But to have that chance he will have to beat Norrie and a partisan Centre Court crowd with the left-hander bidding to become the first home finalist since Andy Murray won his second Wimbledon title in 2016.
Djokovic lost only three games against Norrie when the duo faced off in their lone meeting in the group stages of the ATP Finals last year.
"We played indoors... only one encounter that we had," the top-seeded Serb said.
"Of course, different conditions, different tournament (and) environment than what it would be playing here in Wimbledon on Centre Court, semi-finals of a slam in his country. I know what to expect... in terms of the crowd support.
"Again, for him, not much to lose. Every victory from now onwards is a big deal for him. I know that. But I practised few times. I know his game well. He's been around. Of course I will do my homework and get ready."
Both Djokovic and Norrie had to stage five-set comeback victories in their quarter-finals.
While Djokovic rallied from a two-set deficit against Italian Jannik Sinner, Norrie fought back from 2-1 down to beat Belgium's David Goffin.
But on paper Djokovic, who Goffin described as "an alien" due to his incredible record at Wimbledon, looks the clear favourite in Friday's clash against the South African-born and New Zealand-raised Norrie.
However, Norrie, the fourth British man to reach the semi-finals in the professional era, will not be intimidated and with the Centre Court crowd roaring him on will believe anything is possible.
"It's one of the tougher tasks in tennis, I'm going to have to definitely raise my level and raise my level of focus to have a shot with him," the 26-year-old said after beating Goffin.
"I think obviously I have been playing great, but I think there are a lot of things I can do better... I'm going to be ready for him."
- Reuters
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