The match took place on the final day of the 2011 edition of the 13-day Wimbledon Championships, held every June and July.

Rafael Nadal won the pre-match coin toss and chose to receive, Novak Djokovic elected to stay.

In the first nine games of the first set, both players held serve quite comfortably, without facing any break points or deuces.

On the second game, a back unforced error mid-rally by Nadal gave Djokovic another break point.

In the first game, Djokovic managed to reduce a 40–0 deficit to 40–30, but Nadal won the next point to hold serve.

Nadal created a break point opportunity on the first game of the set, by forcing a backhand error on Djokovic with his forehand.

Djokovic saved the break point by coming to the net in the beginning of the rally, creating the second deuce of the match.

Unlike the third set, this time Djokovic managed to hold his service game eventually, when two returns of serve from Nadal went long.

At 30–30 in the ninth game, Djokovic served-and-volleyed to create his first championship point opportunity, which he converted after a backhand from Nadal landed out of the court.

After his win, Djokovic noticeably ate some of the Centre Court grass, a ritual he has repeated every time he won the Wimbledon Championships title in upcoming years.