When Novak Djokovic returned to the Wimbledon turf to start a new campaign two weeks ago, he sailed the field with a little extra pressure on his shoulders. He was deported before the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, then was overtaken in the second. It is not yet known where he will be allowed to play next. On the court, he was still struggling to regain the mental advantage that has eluded him this year.
He has obviously returned. In one of the most anticipated Grand Slam finals for neutrals, Djokovic absorbed an impeccable exit from Nick Kyrgios before raising his own level and gradually suffocating his opponent as he often does, recovering from a set to defeat Kyrgios 4-6, 6. -3, 6-4, 7-6 (3) and win his fourth consecutive Wimbledon title.
Wimbledon is his second most successful grand slam, but now Djokovic has won seven startling individual titles, equaling the number of Pete Sampras. He ranks second on the all-time men’s list behind Roger Federer, who has eight titles, and has broken the tie for second place in 20 men’s Grand Slam tournaments with Federer, rising to 21 and one victory of Rafael Nadal. in the never-ending Grand Slam race.
Djokovic is also the fourth man in history, after Bjorn Borg, Sampras and Federer, to win four consecutive Wimbledon titles. “He’s kind of a god,” Kyrgios said. “I’m not going to lie, I thought I was playing well.”
Nick Kyrgios congratulates Novak Djokovic at the end of the final. Photography: Tom Jenkins / The Guardian
Throughout his career, Kyrgios has made a name for himself as a great player who rises up against the best, but it was unclear if he would be so scared with so much at stake. He was absolutely. During a nerveless first set, Kyrgios served very well, weaving his variety net and even outscoring Djokovic from the reverse corner. Djokovic, one of the best returners of all time, struggled hard to read the Australian’s serve and the set was decided with a poor serve game as Djokovic fouled twice on the break.
But the champion kept his concentration and gradually turned the game around. He first began grinding at Kyrgios in the longer exchanges, then read Kyrgios’ service more fluently. He played an incredible comeback match with a 2-1, breaking Kyrgios ’love service after four first-class returns from another world. Under sustained pressure, as he served the set at 5-3, Djokovic bounced back from 0-40 and saved four break points, the last with a delicious drop shot, to hold on.
Novak Djokovic’s great experience in the Grand Slam finals was explained when he spun the screw after losing the first set. Photography: Tom Jenkins / The Guardian
At the start of the match, Kyrgios effectively repressed his temper, but as the third set unfolded, his mood slowly shelled out. The challenger constantly ranted towards his box, then after a fan called during his service, he received an audible violation of the obscenity code during his discussion with the referee. Meanwhile, a “Where is Peng Shuai?” The protester was approached by security.
As the chaos unfolded through the network, Djokovic remained calm and his level gradually increased to the stratosphere. He played incredibly during the third set, making just two unforced errors to 14 winners. He had to be patient in the fourth set as Kyrgios served very well, but one of the many problems of his opponents these days is that he can serve as effectively as possible. When the tiebreaker began, Djokovic fired while Kyrgios fell. After a brief interlude earlier in the year, he resumed his search for history.
Quick guide
How do I sign up for last minute sports news alerts?
Show
- Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store for iPhones or the Google Play Store for Android phones by searching for “The Guardian.”
- If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you have the latest version.
- In the Guardian app, tap the yellow button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon) and then Notifications.
- Enable sports notifications.
Thanks for your comments.
Although Kyrgios pointed out criticism and insults to Djokovic in the past, the couple had curiously spent the night before their Grand Slam final communicating publicly with each other via Instagram stories, which ended with Kyrgios inviting Djokovic over for a drink. Their new sympathy continued afterwards as they praised each other during the trophy ceremony. “I never thought I would say a lot of nice things about you considering the relationship,” Djokovic said. “Okay, it’s officially a bromance.”
After hearing so many people suggest that he has the potential to achieve great things in the sport, Kyrgios finally took advantage of some of his potential this week. When asked by Sue Barker, her last day as a BBC Wimbledon broadcaster, if this result made her want to return, Kyrgios shook his head vigorously: “Absolutely not,” he said, as the crowd laughed. . “I’m very tired, honestly. Myself, my team is so exhausted, we’ve played so much tennis. I definitely need a well-deserved vacation after that.”
After his vacation, Kyrgios has to answer much more serious questions. He has been summoned to appear in court on August 2 in Canberra on a charge of assault against his ex-girlfriend, Chiara Passari, news that was revealed after his fourth-round match earlier in the week.
With his presence at the U.S. Open still uncertain due to his unvaccinated status, Djokovic’s future moves are less clear. But for now, the focus is on another notable success. Unlike Sampras and Federer, whose turf track company he now maintains, Djokovic’s style of play was not entirely made for turf. But when I was little, Wimbledon was the tournament I wanted to win the most.
The way the Serb has adapted his game to thrive on this surface over the years is one of the great successes of this sport. He is now unbeaten on the central court since 2013, in 39 games. The company with its successes in this area is becoming more and more rare and, above all, it is not finished.