The 35-year-old Serb (3rd), winner of the last four editions of the Major on grass, thus returns to a length of the record of 22 Grand Slam trophies held by Rafael Nadal. He now has one more than Roger Federer (20).
Novak Djokovic won his seventh Wimbledon title on Sunday by beating Australian Nick Kyrgios (40th in the world) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) in the final, and thus won his 21st title of the Grand Slam. “I no longer have the words to say what this tournament and this trophy represent for me, commented Djokovic. He has always been the most important in my heart. It is this tournament that made me want to play, when I saw Pete Sampras win. That’s when I asked my parents to buy me a racquet.”
The 35-year-old Serb (3rd), winner of the last four editions of the Major on grass, thus returns to a length of the record of 22 Grand Slam trophies held by Rafael Nadal. He now has one more than Roger Federer (20). “He’s a bit of a god, without lying,” said Kyrgios in his very first words, he who was playing his first Grand Slam final at 27. From there to want to play more? “Not at all! retorted the whimsical Australian. I am so exhausted. Me, my team, we are all exhausted. I am very happy with this result and maybe one day I will come back, but that I do not know nothing”.
Like Pete Sampras
With this seventh title on the London turf, Djokovic equals his idol Pete Sampras and finds himself one length behind Roger Federer’s men’s record. The absolute record is held for women by Martina Navratilova who has won the tournament 9 times. He also equals Sampras with four consecutive Wimbledon titles. Only Björn Borg and Roger Federer have lined up five. He also signed his 28th consecutive victorious match at Wimbledon, only Pete Sapras (31), Roger Federer (40) and Björn Borg (41) did better.
Djokovic also recorded his 86th victory at Wimbledon where only Roger Federer was more prolific (105). The match promised to be explosive, between the solid Serbian, cap in place, and the turbulent Australian, cap backwards. But the latter generally observed all the rules, letting his tennis do the talking. And, from the start, it was he who spoke the loudest! Kyrgios accepted the fight, Djokovic agreed to play at the finest. The Australian made the first break to lead 3-2 and confirmed on a serve and volley on a second serve (4-2).
Tweeners but no skids
In the next game, he attempted – and succeeded – improbable shots like a tweener facing the court or a forehand slap, but Djokovic watched and punished the insolent each time. The purely artistic disturbances not working, the Australian abandoned the frills and applied himself in his already sufficiently creative game. With his very big serve (29 aces, 61 winners in total), he kept the advantage without having conceded a single break point and won the set with an ace. But if Kyrgios relies on a big serve, that of Djokovic is just as devastating (15 aces and 82% success on points played after his first ball). And since he is a better returner than the Australian and moves better, he gradually took control of the game.
After a few points that caused ovations in the public to crack the walls of the venerable Center Court which celebrates its centenary, Djokovic equalized at one set everywhere. Nervousness then started to creep into Kyrgios as his opponent put his hand on the encounter. Verbal exchanges with his clan, with the referee giving him a warning, Kyrgios avoided the uncontrolled skid but lost the third set. Too dependent on his serve and rarely threatening on Djokovic’s, Kyrgios managed to reach the tie break in the fourth set, but his opponent left him no hope.