Tattoo-loving underdog aiming to stun Djokovic

Wimbledon semi-finalist Lorenzo Musetti lives for tennis truthful overmuch he has a tattoo of a racquet connected a chart of his ain heartbeat connected his near arm.

It is 1 of 3 tattoos connected nan Italian's body. He besides has an anchor representing nan value of family successful his life and a quote from his coach saying 'Il meglio deve ancora venire' meaning 'the champion is yet to come'.

The 22-year-old, who became a begetter successful March, will dream that mantra will thief him erstwhile he faces seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic successful nan 2nd of Friday's semi-finals.

Musetti, a finalist astatine this year's Queen's, has had a rollercoaster tally into nan 2nd week of a Grand Slam for nan first clip successful his career.

He has won 3 of his matches this fortnight successful 4 sets and nan different 2 successful five, overcoming 13th seed Taylor Fritz successful an epic quarter-final that lasted 3 hours 27 minutes.

The crowd connected Court One quickly sided pinch nan Italian, appreciating his powerful and resilient play arsenic good arsenic his passionate guidance to victory.

As nan underdog connected Friday, nan 25th seed is apt to person moreover much support erstwhile he walks connected to Centre Court for nan first time.

Djokovic, meanwhile, will beryllium hoping for a amended guidance aft accusing immoderate members of nan crowd of disrespectful booing during his fourth-round triumph complete Holger Rune.

The past clip nan 2 met, Djokovic won successful 5 sets. That was six weeks agone successful nan French Open successful an unthinkable lucifer which finished astatine 3:07 successful nan morning.

It was nan Serb's 5th triumph against Musetti, whose only triumph complete Djokovic came connected nan clay of Monte Carlo past year.

But Musetti, who is hoping to return inspiration from chap Italian Jasmine Paolini's run to nan women's final, says he has "always vanished pinch a lesson" each clip he has faced Djokovic - and this clip he has "his shot".

"He's astir apt nan champion subordinate ever, aliases 1 of nan champion players ever," he said. "You locomotion connected tribunal [to look him] pinch a different mentality."

Djokovic has worn a knee support this tourney aft having room successful June but has been arsenic relentless arsenic ever arsenic he bids to lucifer Roger Federer's men's grounds of 8 Wimbledon singles titles.

And nan 37-year-old has had nan advantage of an other day's remainder aft receiving a bye into nan past 4 aft Alex de Minaur withdrew from their quarter-final done injury.

He has been singing his opponent's praises successful nan build-up to nan match.

"He’s a very talented player. We've known this for galore years," Djokovic told nan BBC. "He has a beautiful one-handed backhand, he’s very quick.

"He’s a very bully all-round subordinate - he tin play arsenic good defensively and offensively."

The victor betwixt Musetti and Djokovic will look either defending champion Carlos Alcaraz aliases 5th seed Daniil Medvedev successful Sunday's final.

The match, which will beryllium played first connected Centre Court from 13:30 BST connected Friday, is simply a repetition of past year's semi-final which Spaniard Alcaraz won successful consecutive sets.

The three-time Grand Slam victor boasts a awesome grounds complete Medvedev, winning 4 of their six matches.

But nan Russian did get his revenge successful nan past 4 of nan US Open 10 months ago, and will return bosom from beating apical seed Jannik Sinner successful a thrilling five-setter successful nan erstwhile round.

Alcaraz, 21, who won nan French Open six weeks ago, was almost beaten by 29th seed Frances Tiafoe successful nan 3rd round.

He recovered from a group down to hit American Tommy Paul successful his quarter-final connected Tuesday.