LONDON, (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic is enjoying such a magical year that even patchy form and the acrobatic brilliance of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga could not stop him reaching his first Wimbledon final and becoming world number one yesterday.
The Serbian’s 7-6 6-2 6-7 6-3 semi-final triumph over the Frenchman included a bout of early nerves, three great diving exchanges at the net, a topsy-turvy tiebreak and an explosion of jubilant emotion he will struggle to repeat if he wins tomorrow’s final.
The 24-year-old, who won 41 matches in a row from the start of the year before losing to Roger Federer in the French Open semi-finals, will become the first Serb to be men’s world number one.
“It’s definitely one of the most important achievements and days in my life, in my career. When you know you’re going to be the best in the world and you’re reaching the final of your favourite tournament, it’s something special,” he told reporters.