In the first Gentlemen’s Singles semifinal at Wimbledon 2011, No. 2 Novak Djokovic survived No. 12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6(4), 6-2, 7-6(9), 6-3, thereby clinching his first trip to a Wimbledon final and the ATP No. 1 ranking.
Wimbledon 2011: Novak Djokovic Clinches Spot In Wimbledon Final, No. 1 Ranking
After failing to convert on two match points in the third set, Djokovic wasted no time taking control of the fourth, breaking Tsonga in the second game of the set and never letting the flashy Frenchman back in.
The win improves Djokovic’s record to 47-1 in 2011, his lone loss coming to Roger Federer in the French Open semifinals.
As the last Tsonga shot sailed out, Djokovic fell to the ground, screamed, and exulted as if he had won a grand slam. But for someone who has two previous slam titles but had never been able to break the Federer-Nadal stranglehold on the No. 1 ranking, finally breaking through has to feel just as important as his success at this tournament.
Djokovic becomes the first Serbian to hold the No. 1 ranking in men’s singles, and the fourth Serbian overall to land atop tennis rankings. Nenad Zimonjic has previously been No. 1 in doubles, and both Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic have been ranked No. 1 in the WTA singles chart.
Djokovic awaits the winner of the second semifinal between No. 1 Rafael Nadal and No. 4 Andy Murray.
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