LONDON – Novak Djokovic remained calm in the central court oven against Nick Kyrgios to win his seventh Wimbledon championship. When Kyrgios nailed the ball to the net at the point of the championship, Djokovic looked at his team and let out a great exhalation. The victory sees him one behind Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 men’s individual titles.
In a match in which Kyrgios became increasingly frustrated with the interruptions and his own team, Djokovic kept calm with pleasant temperatures to beat Kyrgios in four sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7- 6 (3). This was Kyrgios ’first individual Grand Slam final, while it was Djokovic’s 32nd, and the experience finally won.
Kyrgios stormed the first set in just 31 minutes to win 6-4, with Djokovic struggling to read the Australian’s serve. But then Djokovic found his pace, slowed down slightly and clung to the second set 6-3, which turned out to be the turning point of the match.
Kyrgios felt more frustrated during the third set and asked the referee to remove a spectator who said he had “drunk 700 drinks, brother” and was talking to him for a point. Kyrgios also often directed frustration towards his team, as Djokovic kept his cool. He broke Kyrgios in the ninth game, and then served to go up 2-1 in sets.
The fourth set, after a great effort by both players, went to the tiebreaker. Djokovic read about Kyrgios ’serve to win on the third point of the championship.
This win puts Djokovic level with Pete Sampras and William Renshaw in seven individual Wimbledon men’s titles, one less than Roger Federer’s record. Here’s how the men’s singles final fell on the center court and how Djokovic kept calm while Kyrgios lost his.
JOKER’S REIGN IN WIMBLEDON CONTINUES 🏆 @DjokerNole wins his 21st Grand Slam title! pic.twitter.com/owXKPOOog7
– SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 10, 2022
Taming the service of Kyrgios
Djokovic does not have the reputation of being the best returner of the match for nothing. Man is a machine. But in the first set he really couldn’t get Kyrgios ’service, which included a second ace at 125 mph in just the second game of the match. Kyrgios dropped just five points on his serve in the first set to advance. This meant that Djokovic had lost a first set for the third match played at Wimbledon, only the third time in his career on grass this had happened. But Djokovic is well versed in changing things, and soon managed to control Kyrgios’ service.
Kyrgios had won the previous two meetings before Sunday’s final, and Djokovic had only managed one break point in those two games. But he broke Kyrgios once each in the second and third to get a standing point. It was really remarkable, as Kyrgios managed to maintain more than 70% of his first services, but Djokovic was able to manage them at key moments. This included the tiebreaker, when he broke Kyrgios’ serve three times to allow him to serve for the championship.
THIS WILL DO IT! @DjokerNole defeats Nick Kyrgios in the tiebreaker to win the #Wimbledon championship! pic.twitter.com/VojQ4mHLN5
– SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 10, 2022
Third set of fireworks on the central track
Djokovic told us on Friday that we were expecting “fireworks” in this match and while there were no points of interest on the court between the two players, he didn’t want drama. They talked about their flowery “bromance” in preparation for this match, and there really wasn’t a bad time between them during the contest, but Kyrgios was still vocal as the match progressed as he turned against the referee. , a spectator and even. your own team.
When Kyrgios missed his chance to break Djokovic at the end of the second set, yielding three seven-pointers, he increased the conversation towards his box. He was increasingly frustrated by how the match was unfolding, and the talk continued until the third set. At one point, he said to his box, “I don’t get it! Why ?! I don’t get it,” and then he went on, “I’ll hit a 130.” [mph] second service, that’s what I’ll do. ”He then threw an ace. He also received a warning for“ audible obscenity ”during that set, and all in front of 8-year-old Prince George, who was sitting in the front row of the Royal Box next to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
He was also angry at a spectator who said he was talking to him during the points. He complained to the spectator in front of the referee, saying, “Why is he still here? He’s drunk out of his mind.”
And there was his own team, with whom he was raging as the third set progressed. “I can’t do anything, do you care or what? I don’t feel like it. Do you know how hard it is to hit a guy three times ?!” This continued until the fourth, with Kyrgios shouting at his box during the tiebreaker, “Why are you scared ?!”
It was the third set when the momentum shifted behind Djokovic. Kyrgios’ frustration continued until the fourth with several incorrect line calls against him, and at one point he told the referee, “You haven’t made any decent cancellations in three hours.”
“It’s officially a bromance.”
– @ DjokerNole and @NickKyrgios 😂 pic.twitter.com/QQCZyFDbxX
– SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 10, 2022
The battle to be the ultimate male GOAT
Djokovic participates in 21 men’s individual Grand Slams, only one behind Rafael Nadal. Nadal has always put aside the importance of coming out of this golden generation with more Slams between him, Djokovic and Roger Federer. But Djokovic has often spoken of wanting to be ahead of the rest. Still, his vaccination position could make things difficult in the upcoming Slams.
He is currently not allowed to travel to the US because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19, while Australia issued a three-year ban after being deported in January. This means he is unlikely to play another Slam until France next year, on his less-favored surface. At 35, judging by his competitors, Djokovic still has a handful of years ahead of him, but the chances of accumulating the Slams are slowly dwindling.
What there is no doubt is his current dominance of the Wimbledon title. Kyrgios had talked about the importance of experience here, and how, although this would be his first Grand Slam final, Djokovic knows every bit of grass and exactly how to navigate the sport’s most important occasion. He said this would give Djokovic an advantage and he was shown to be right as Djokovic won his fourth title on the rebound.
Djokovic has won his last 39 games on the central court and his streak of victories extends to 28 games at Wimbledon (both defeats in 2016 and 2017 took place on court number 1). He reiterated his love for the center court for the past fortnight and the next time we see him win a Slam maybe it will be this time next year. At that point Nadal will have had three chances to stretch ahead, while Federer may still be in the middle of his comeback.