Wimbledon: Djokovic beats Shapovalov to reach final

Well it's Groundhog day for Shapovalov! Again, just at the crucial time, Shapovalov commits a double fault. Then, at 30-30, Shapovalov does it again! Another double fault! Unbelievable what pressure does. A forehand goes long, and Djokovic breaks! Is this the end of Shapovalov's fight?

Djokovic to serve for the match now

Djokovic holds to love! He's closing in now. One break away from a spot in the final. Can Shapovalov take us beyond a 3rd set? Strong game from him too, as he keeps coming to the net. Goes 5-4 up. Once more, Djokovic holds to love. Brisk and businesslike on his serve now, not giving the Canadian a single sighter.

Both players again hold serve with relative ease. Shapovalov makes Djokovic lose his footing and go rolling in the deep with a perfect drop shot. Boris Becker says Djokovic looks flexible even while falling. Another big attack on the Shapovalov serve now. The Canadian bravely advances to the net and saves a couple of break points. And he still holds! It's Djokovic who is seeing the break points come and go in this set.

Shapovalov bangs on the door, almost breaking Djokovic again immediately in the third set. But Djokovic, after a series of retrievals, saves break point. Roars a 'Come on', and then a few more for good measure. Crucial hold! Then it's Djokovic who bangs on the door as he senses blood, but Shapovalov also holds firm against break points.

A very animated reaction from Shapovalov as Djokovic wins the 2nd set, who rages at the chair umpire, which might have more to do with how well he has played but still has nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. The Canadian takes his first service game in the 3rd set without breaking sweat.

What a point! Some insane defensive lobs from Djokovic...Shapovalov, exasparated, now hits an easy backhand long. Having squandered 5 break points in this set, he now faces his first. And he makes a double fault! 'If there's a difference between these 2 players, that point demonstrates it.' Djokovic to now serve for the 2nd set. Flawless, like he's playing against an invisible opponent. It's been such an equal game all through, the Canadian has even shaded the first halves of both sets, but the Serb is two sets to none up in the semi-final!

Both players take their service games without trouble. Now Shapovalov, is some bother in his 5th service game, faces some trouble as Djoker again looks to up his game in the big points, but the Canadian holds on.

Shapovalov has 3 break point opportunities but Djokovic claws back all 3 to keep things level. The Canadian then holds serve, as both players refuse to concede ground in the 2nd set. Now again on Djokovic's serve, the Canadian goes up. Can he finally pull off a break? What a high quality rally! It's Shapovalov who wins, as the crowd oohs and aahs, 2 more break points for the Canadian. He squanders them both. Has let 5 break points go in the 2nd set so far, as Djoker is again let off the hook.

Shapovalov starts the 2nd set like he had started the first - in absolute control! Starts off by sealing his service game by love. Djokovic holds serve too. Shapovalov, now not liking what he sees on HawkEye after an unsuccessful challenge, seems to be arguing against the merits of technology as he approaches the chair in apparent distress. Does get his focus back to seal another service game at love! Apart from that one last game in the 1st set, Shapovalov's serve has been absolutely on the money!

Tie-Break time! Shapovalov wins the first point, Djokovic raises his hand in despair at the amount of space he left open in going for a drop shot. Shapovalov then hits the net. A wild backhand unforced error then from the Canadian. Cries of frustration from him. Djokovic goes up 2-1. Then 3-1, as Shapovalov again hits the net. Set point for the Djoker! And he does seal the tie-break after Shapovalov makes his first double fault of the game.

Djokovic now slithers into control slowly! Seals out his service game to go 6-5 up. Shapovalov then comes up with a series of one-handed backhands which are so good even Djokovic applauds as he is wrong-footed by one. Love game again! It's 6-6 in the first set.

Djokovic serves at 3-5, Shapovalov continues controlling the tempo of the rallies, and he gets us to deuce! Djokovic manages to hold. Gets it to 4-5. Shapovalov now to serve for the first set. And there's the unforced error from the Canadian. Had conceded just 2 points on his serve in the whole match so far, concedes 4 points in this one. Had the whole court to aim at but goes long with his forehand. For all of Shapovalov's control through the set, it's Djokovic who wins the big points.

Djokovic also sees through his service game, but not without signs of encouragement for Shapovalov. Djoker mostly content to sit well behind the baseline now, as Shapovalov does most of the lateral and back-and-forth running. The same theme continues in the Canadian's service game, with Shapovalov dictating the points at this stage. Love game, again! He has lost just 2 points on serve so far!

Shapovalov lording this first set at the moment! Seals his next service game at love. Djokovic also holds his service game without sweat. Shapovalov also seals the following game without trouble. Indian star Rohan Bopanna seen in the crowd looking chuffed at the southpaw's form.

Shapovalov concedes a lead to Djokovic on his serve, but gets back into the lead and closes out the game with a clenched fist. 1-1 in the first set. And there's some early trouble for Djokovic. Shapovalov advances to the net and brings up two break points with a smash through the middle. Djoker shows his resilience in getting us back to deuce but then Shapovalov again advances to smash a forehand into the corner. Shapovalov breaks!

Berrettini became the first Italian Player to reach a Singles Final at Wimbledon. Djokovic will be trying to win the Wimbledon title for a 6th time as he looks to stave off Shapovalov in the semi. Serves first. Races to a lead.  Seals the first service game at love.

Time for the second semi! Djokovic and Shapovalov walk out to the centre court. Who will meet Berrettini in Sunday's final?

Berrettini beats Hurkacz 6-3, 6-0, 6-7, 6-4 and advances to his first Grand Slam final! He becomes the first Italian — man or woman — to make a Wimbledon singles final, relying on his powerful forehand, accurate service and quick movements. Bellissimo!

Berrettini knows the deal now: simply hold serve and go through to the final. That's what he does again... he holds to love. Hurcakz does the same too but after some toil. Berrettini stole two points, making it 30-30 at one point. Still, the Polish survives...

Berrettini opens with an unreturnable serve but Hurkacz shows what he has in his locker with an instinctive dropshot to make it 15-15. Hurkacz makes it 30-30 but from there, the Italian races to holding his serve -- with a forehand and a Hurkacz unforced error.

Both the players trade blows consecutively, but Hurkacz gains the upper hand by going up 40-30. But after a long rally, Berrettini bites back with yet another forehand winner to make it deuce. After two deuces and finally two errors, Hurkacz manages to hold!

Berrettini bounces back to form by breaking his opponent in the first game of the fourth set itself! The Italian, who took a break after the previous set for changing his clothes, looks in form as he holds his serve by losing just one point. Two up already!

Hurkacz rides his momentum to pick up the first point in the tiebreak. Berrettini looks shaken now as he gifts a second point to his opponent. Berrettini hits the net in a crucial moment but finally opens his account with an ace. 4-1. Hurkacz has the upper hand as he moves to 5-1, but a wayward forehand makes it 5-2. He gains three set points next... he loses one but he finally seals the set!

Despite starting off by hitting the net, Hurkacz makes it 15-15 with a powerful forehand return. He picks up the next point before failing to hit a successful return. 30-30. An ace and a net on return makes it deuce! Hurkacz stays calm and holds his serve! 

Berrettini relies on his backhand to save a point and then unleashes a forehand to make it 0-15. Hurkacz fights back to make it 30-15, one with a beautiful forehand. Then, Berrettini overhits a forehand return... but he bounces back with two unreturnable returns! Deuce! Hurkacz gains advantage but it's deuce again afterwards! After much toil, he keeps himself alive by holding his serve.

Berrettini rights his wrongs in the previous game with some brilliant forehand slices. Four straight points. Holds to love.

The Italian eighth seed needs just one more game to advance to the Wimbledon final! 

Both the players have been trading equal blows for a while now... so now, both Berrettini and Hurkacz look pumped up to get a break. But the Italian fails to control his backhand often as his unforced error makes it 30-0 to Hurkacz's favour. The Polish holds!

Hurkacz has found back some of his rhythm as he holds twice in a row. Berrettini doesn't stop though, he makes it 15-0 in his serve with an ace. His Polish opponent bites back, but Berrettini relies on his super-quick serves to wrap up the game easily. 

Hurkacz races to 40-0 amidst a lot of fist-pumping as he seems to regain some of his initial confidence. Berrettini hits two pinpoint forehand returns to make it 40-30, but the Polish holds. Finally, after 11 straight games without a win. Back to business?

Berrettini maintains his momentum with his forehand and movement. His big first serve makes it 15-0. Hurkacz fights back to level it, but it's the same script all over again. He misses his forehand and the Italian races to the next three points. First blood, Berrettini!

Berrettini storms to win the second set in 20 minutes! He faces Hurkacz's serve and deals with it brilliantly to make it 15-30. The Polish hits a dropshot near the net to make it 30-30. But Berrettini races to the final two points, courtesy of his powerful forehand.

Hurkacz finds some form back as he wrestles against Berrettini to make it 30-30 with some of his good old net play. But his confidence takes another beating as he gifts a point with a wayward forehand and then another! Second break for the Italian! 

The wind is so on Berrettini's sails right now! He quickly wraps up three back-to-back games, breaking once to love. He seals the third game by losing just a single point against Hurkacz. Meanwhile, the Polish looks a bit shaky, devoid of confidence.

Berrettini wraps his serve quickly, losing just first point. Then he continues on his mission to win the first set, winning the first point in Hurkacz's serve. But two unforced errors makes it 30-15. Hurkacz has the opportunity to hold from 40-30 but his net-play falters... deuce! The Polish fails to keep his calm again, handing his opposition the first set with two misjudged forehands.

BREAK! Finally, the set has come alive owing to Berrettini's fireworks! He opens the game with a brilliant angled forehand to make it 15-0. Both the players deal alternative punches but the Italian has the last laugh as his dropshots draw the error from Hurkacz!

Apart from the third game, most of it has been easy for the servers. Berrettini sticks to his power-serves to make it 2-2 and then Hurkacz makes it nine straight service points for himself. Looking for the break, Hurkacz wins the first point in the next game, but Berrettini soon makes it 30-15 after a rally. Hurkacz fights back to make it to deuce... four times. In the end, Berrettini holds!

The composed start by Hurkacz is dealt a heavy blow in just his second service! Berrettini races to 0-40 with a combination of both his forehand and backhand, but Hurkacz bites back to make it 30-40. After saving two break points, he romps on with his smashes to make it deuce. He gains the advantage with an unreturnable serve and then saves his service owing to a Berrettini error.

Hurkacz starts on a bright note, sealing his first game by holding to love. A cool and composed one-and-a-half minutes by the Polish. Berrettini returns in kind... holding his serve to love owing to a wayward forehand by Hurkacz. Three minutes gone so far...

After the completion of the formalities, toss and warm-up, time for the action now. Hurkacz with the serve...

First Round: Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6, 6-1 Musetti
Second Round: Hurkacz 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 Giron
Third Round: Hurkacz 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 Bublik
Round of 16: Hurkacz 2-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 Medvedev
Quarter-Final: Hurkacz 6-3, 7-6, 6-0 Federer

First Round: Berrettini 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 Pella
Second Round: Berrettini 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 van de Zandschulp
Third Round: Berrettini 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 Bedene
Round of 16: Berrettini 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 Ivashka
Quarter-Final: Berrettini 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 Auger Aliassime

There are three first-time Wimbledon men’s singles semi-finalists — Matteo Berrettini, Hubert Hurkacz and Denis Shapovalov — for the first time since 2006, when Rafael Nadal, Jonas Bjorkman and Marcos Baghdatis advanced to the last four. 

Hello and welcome to the live commentary of the first Wimbledon men's singles semi-final between Matteo Berrettini and Hubert Hurkacz. Beating Felix Auger-Aliassime and eight-time champion Roger Federer in their respective last-eight contests, Berrettini and Hubert are aiming to go all the way to set up a final clash against either Novak Djokovic or Denis Shapovalov. Stay tuned!