Hubert Hurkacz cut a rather casual figure as he waited to enter Centre Court. All smiles and easy chatter. As if he were headed to a local park for a friendly. A couple of metres behind him was Matteo Berrettini, match face in place, stretching and preparing. Ready to burst through the gates of the All England Club.
Some two hours and 36 minutes after play was called at Wimbledon, the seventh-seeded Italian showed just how ready he was, claiming a 6-3, 6-0, 6-7 (3), 6-4 semifinal win to make his first final of a Grand Slam.
Berrettini will take on the World No.1 Novak Djokovic for the champion's prize. The Serb put out Canada's Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-5 in the second semifinal, extending his winning streak on grass to 20 matches in making his seventh Wimbledon and 30th Grand Slam final.
The seventh-seeded Italian, who swept into Church Road after winning his fifth Tour-level title at Queen's, became the first player - man or woman - from his country to reach the singles final at The Championships. Berrettini, who had made the last-four of a Grand Slam for the first time at the 2019 US Open, is the first Italian man to reach a Grand Slam final since Adriano Panatta won the Roland Garros title in 1976.
Hurkacz, who appeared to have lost his bearings in the first half of the match, struggling to remember his lines, was bulldozed by the power overload. Berrettini, who has won 23 of his last 25 matches on grass, had 60 winners and 22 aces on the day. And just 18 unforced errors.
The 25-year-old, who was cheered on by his girlfriend WTA pro Ajla Tomljanovic, coach Vincenzo Santopadre and his family, tapped his heart after clinching a place in the final.
"I never dreamed about this because it's too much even for a dream. I'm just so happy. Nothing to say, grazie," said the Italian, whose first outing on Centre Court was against Roger Federer two years ago in the round-of-16. "I was trying to be the best, physically, mentally and tennis tactics wise. After I lost the third set, which I thought I deserved to win, I told myself, doesn't matter. I think my match against Roger here (2019) helped me today. So far (today) is the best day of my life, hopefully Sunday will be even better."
Just when it looked like it was all going downhill for the 24-year-old Pole, in his first major semifinal, he made a determined push, staying his ground in the third set.
Berrettini, who appeared to tighten a tad in the tiebreak on Friday, wobbled on the fourth point to let his opponent take a 4-0 lead. The powerful Italian then waded into the fourth set, punching big and breaking in the opening game, before serving it out in the tenth.
Result (Semis): 7-Matteo Berrettini (Ita) bt 14-Hubert Hurkacz (Pol) 6-3, 6-0, 6-7 (3), 6-4; 1-Novak Djokovic (Srb) bt 10-Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-5
