Novak Djokovic Book Serve To Win Free Download
It took a double-handed backhand rifled down the line in the longest rally ever recorded at Wimbledon for Novak Djokovic to finally feel the love from the Centre Court crowd.
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That 45-shot exchange in the third set proved the tipping point as the Serb overcame Roberto Bautista Agut to reach his sixth Championships final.
The world No 1 cupped his ear to the spectators after that point but for much of the match the Wimbledon faithful put their voices behind his Spanish opponent.
Novak Djokovic will face Roger Federer in Wimbledon final after beating Roberto Bautista Agut
Djokovic broke early on in the match, going on to take the first set comfortably at SW19
Bautista Agut faltered early in the match but rallied to level the game in the second set
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'At times (the crowd) wanted him to come back into the match, maybe take a lead because he was an underdog. I understand that,' said the 32-year-old defending champion. 'But I had enough support here over the years, so I don't complain.'
If the fans were against him yesterday that will be nothing compared to tomorrow when he faces Roger Federer. Djokovic can expect every unforced error to be greeted with glee by the acolytes of the patron saint of Centre Court.
'It wouldn't be the first time playing against Nadal or Federer on the Centre Court, I know what to expect,' said Djokovic, who beat Federer in back-to-back Wimbledon finals in 2014 and 2015. 'I'm going to go out there and give it my all. This is what I worked for.'
This opening semi-final always felt like an undercard fight before the big dust up later in the afternoon but it was an engaging contest which showed Djokovic's powers of adaptation.
He has diligently improved his net game in recent years and the fruits of those labours were on show yesterday in a display of volleying that would have made Goran Ivanisevic, the latest addition to his coaching team, proud.
The No 1 seed's form dropped in the second set, and Bautista Agut drew level on Centre Court
Djokovic came to the net 53 times - more than Nadal and Federer combined yesterday - and won 79 per cent of those points.
It was an effective tactic against a player who had beaten him in their last two meetings, in Doha and Miami this year. Bautista Agut is one of the very few individuals who possesses the consistency, athleticism and sheer bloody-mindedness to duel with Djokovic from the baseline.
The No 23 seed was a surprise semi-finalist here, so much so that he had arranged his stag party for this week. But Bautista Agut's six friends flew back from Ibiza and were in his box along with his fiancee Ana Bodi Tortosa.
All seven burst into applause when Bautista Agut began the match with his 89th forehand winner of the tournament, lashing a Djokovic first serve back past him down the line.
Novak Djokovic Gluten Free
That proved to be an anomaly in an opening set Djokovic dominated against an opponent clearly nervous in his first Grand Slam semi final at the age of 31.
Djokovic battled back to take the third set, despite Bautista Agut pushing him all the way
Bautista Agut is a tough cookie, however, and he settled down into his metronomic rhythm. After a Djokovic hold to open the second set Bautista Agut won 11 of the next 12 points, his flat bullet of a forehand emerging from the hibernation into which it had retreated since the first point of the match.
He looked far more comfortable in the rallies and the crowd roared him on. Djokovic, meanwhile, was bellowing in frustration and gesticulating wildly.
'It's nothing unusual,' he said. 'You go through these kind of emotional moments all the time. There's always something that can take you out of the comfort zone.'
Djokovic Serve Speed
And out of his comfort zone he most certainly was. Three times the No 1 seed changed rackets, rooting around in his bag for the right tool with which to combat a resurgent opponent.
The match turned with that sprawling, epic rally in the third set, the longest since Wimbledon began recording their statistics in 2005.
Novak Djokovic Book Serve To Win Free Download
Djokovic puts his finger to his lips during the pulsating semi-final on Centre Court
He then made light work of the waning Spaniard in the fourth set to reach the final on Sunday
With Djokovic leading 4-2 but break point down, they went back and forth for 45 shots. There were 16 consecutive cross-court backhands until Djokovic took his fate into his own hands and re-directed one down the line.
When it really mattered, Bautista Agut played not to lose and Djokovic played to win.
'Winning that game was crucial for me,' he said. 'It gave me more confidence and relief so I could swing more freely.'
As for Bautista Agut, the stag weekend is back on and he is wasting no time.. Will he head out to Ibiza? 'Definitely.' When? 'Tomorrow.'
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