And with that, Novak Djokovic, who will not be at this year’s US Open as it stands, or the Australian Open in 2023, poses with his trophy, his seventh Wimbledon title, his 21st grand slam. Soon enough he will make his way out to Henman Hill/Norrie Knoll to show it off but he is shaking hands with just about everyone. He and Kyrgios leave the field to applause and that’s it for Wimbledon 2022. Thanks from all the team for reading our tournament blogs and articles.
Here’s Tumaini Carayol’s report from Centre Court.
Novak Djokovic speaks to Sue Barker.
Nick, you’ll be back. Not just in Wimbledon but in many finals. You showed why you are one of the best players in the world. Congrats to you and your team. I wish you all the best, man. I really think you are an amazing talent. I never thought I’m going to say so many nice things about you, considering the relationship! OK, it’s officially a bromance! Hopefully this is the start of a wonderful friendship. Let’s start with dinner and drinks and we will see.
I lost words for what this trophy means. It has always been and always will be the most special tournament. Realising a childhood dream in winning this trophy. Every year it gets more meaningful, I am really blessed. The most special court in the world. I am extremely happy and grateful to be here.
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Here comes Big Nick, who speaks to Sue Barker.
Yeah he is a bit of a god, I’m not going to lie. I thought I played well. First of all congratulations to Novak and your team, you’ve won this Championships that many times I don’t even know any more.
Obviously to all the ball kids, the umpires, I know we have a tough relationship at times so thanks for putting up with it. And [thanks] to the crowd, it has been an amazing couple of weeks for me personally.
Absolutely not! I’m so tired honestly. Myself, my team, we’re all exhausted. We’ve played so much tennis. I’m really happy with this result and maybe one day I’ll be here again but I don’t know about that.
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Nick Kyrgios makes his way to meet the Duchess, looking a bit sheepish after all that to-do, before Djokovic receives the trophy and holds it aloft.
The Duchess of Cambridge will make the presentation as the ball girls and boys form a guard of honour, with Sue Barker mistress of ceremonies.
Magnificent.
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2022
In its 100 years, Centre Court has seen few champions like @DjokerNole#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/vffvL2f08Q
Stars of the big screen watch the action unfold 🌟#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/IJipvNakpx
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2022
The two players embrace warmly and then Djokovic makes his way to his box in the usual way, hugging and kissing away. He’s the king of Wimbledon, and Centre Court, Andy Murray back in 2013 the last man to beat him there.
Here’s our snap report.
Djokovic wins his seventh Wimbledon title, beating Kyrgios 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6
Kyrgios throws first, and is called a double fault on his serve. 1-0 to Djokovic. Kyrgios’s men tell him to concentrate on the game and not them. Sound advice. Djokovic works a serve and volley for 2-0, as Kyrgios screams away. But then an error from Djokovic lets Kyrgios back in for 2-1, only for him to crack too long after he gets excitable after a lengthy rally. Then Kyrgios goes long once more 4-1. He blames his box again. He then tries a winner down the line, and can only hit the top of the net. It’s 5-1. Djokovic has another serve, and after a long rally, the inevitable, Kyrgios hits the ball out. 6-1, five championship points. Two serves narrow the advantage, and then, off a long rally, Djokovic forces the error. He’s done it, the 21st grand slam is his.
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*Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-6 Kyrgios
At 0-15, the Kyrgios klub think their man may have a chance. But then comes an outburst at 15-15. Djokovic sends him the wrong way with a disguised forehand for 30-15. But then, it’s 30-30, two points from 2-2 in sets. And, on second serve, Djokovic, having taken a Nadal-esque length of time over the ball toss, skids home one that can’t be returned. And a tie-break ensues, as he serves out.
Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 5-6 Kyrgios*
Kyrgios speeding up play, as he does at his best. But ends up at 15-15 when a return forces a volleying error. Still, some serve and volley gets him to 30-15, an overhead piling home. And then, just as Djokovic looked to have the court begging, he charges on and misses the target. 40-15, then on second serve, Kyrgios misses a winner, and doesn’t challenge the call. The ball was in, and he was unaware. No matter, a big serve wipes that away. It gives him chance to have a dig at the ump as they take a seat. “You’re hesitant” is one of his more polite gambits to an official.
*Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 5-5 Kyrgios
Djokovic begins with a double fault. Hello? A baseline backhand cannot be returned by Kyrgios, who has only got points off Djokovic via double faults in this set. The pattern continues, when Kyrgios cannot lift the ball from his toes and nets for 40-15. But here it comes, at last, a winning return. Not that it mattered, Djokovic cranks out an ace.
The BBC’s coverage is included a bonus addition of Clare Balding chatting to her producers, at the same time as Andrew Castle holds forth. Bring back Dan Maskell.
Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 4-5 Kyrgios*
The pressure is on Kyrgios, but here’s the 27th ace. At 30-0 up, Djokovic makes an unbelievable save, grounding himself and Kyrgios’ shoulders slump when it goes to 30-30. Still, here’s ace No 28. And No 29. Now, can he break Djokovic?
*Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 4-4 Kyrgios
Groans as Kyrgios can’t lift a backhand return over the net, and it’s 30-0. And soon enough, another game served to love. Kyrgios’ first-set break now a distant memory.
John McEnerney is in Cruise control: “Only a Few Good Men can beat ND & Nick is one of The Outsiders sometimes you need to play with your Eyes Wide Shut but it looks like Mission Impossible for Nick.”
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Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 3-4 Kyrgios*
“Let’s go,” says Kyrgios as Djokovic makes a mistake to offer up a 30-15 lead. Djok looks annoyed with that one, too. Then there’s smiles in the Kyrgios box when he executes a lovely drop shot. But here comes rage from their man as a let is called on what would have been an ace. “Let’s go,” he says again, when he wallops a serve home.
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*Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 3-3 Kyrgios
Djokovic holds to love. Kyrgios cannot get close to his serve at the moment.
A message arrives: “the protester on centre court was Drew Pavlou who was holding a Where is Peng Shuai? sign. He staged a similar protest at the Australian Open.”
Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 2-3 Kyrgios*
Some big serving and more muttering, and another tennis rabona, and it’s 40-15, and then 40-30, and Kyrgios starts to wobble again, only this time to crash home when Djokovic can only lay him up for a serve.
Abhijato gets in touch: “As much as Djokovic gets a bad rep for losing his cool sometimes, he almost always keeps it when it truly matters. That’s probably the difference between a temperamental talent and a world-beating champion. Sad way for Kyrgios to blow perhaps his best shot at a Grand Slam title, if he keeps distracting himself with his own colourful obscenities and rageful taunts.”
Richard Chandler: “I’m struggling to recall another Wimbledon final where I’ve been rooting for both players to somehow lose. I’m praying for a suitably undignified finale e.g. a Kyrgios handbags episode resulting in the umpire - or his own box - finally delivering a well deserved kick to his goolies / Djokovic getting a catastrophic, match-ending bout of Omicron tummy requiring a resignation from the bowels of the Wimbledon bogs.”
*Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 2-2 Kyrgios
A double fault from Djokovic sets off a ripple of expectation, but soon enough it’s 15-15, the rally, going his way, as they now tend to do. An ace takes it to 40-15, and then another baseline fail from Kyrgios levels the set.
Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 1-2 Kyrgios*
The falling leaf drop shot catches Kyrgios out once more for 0-15. Then comes a Big Nick ace, and some serve and volley classicism. Tom Cruise is watching, no doubt admiring the Top Gun serve and the Australian’s Days Of Thunder, though it’s a Risky Business backing him when Djokovic is Far And Away making All The Right Moves. It’s making for a heady Cocktail.
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*Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 1-1 Kyrgios
A long rally at 30-0 where Djokovic prevails suggests the direction of travel remains. He eventually holds to love, backhanding down the line to confirm that.
Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 0-1 Kyrgios*
Djokovic leaves the court to freshen up, while Kyrgios curdles in his seat, muttering away. He’s on the ropes now. There’s a lengthy delay. Can Kyrgios regroup or did that extend his anxiety? Let’s see. His serve will be indicative. He starts talking about being 40-up and being let down again. Will these people speak to him later? 40-0 arrives, via a crunching forehand, but Djokovic reading a drop shot clambers up to loop a winner home. Kyrgios sees it out this time, one of those low stop-backhands giving Djok nothing to work with.
Djokovic wins the third set 6-4 and leads 2-1
“Why do you stop at 40-0?” says Big Nick, smashing his racket into the floor. “Say something,” he says to his people, who aren’t actually allowed to say anything. It’s someone else’s fault that he coughed up three break points and lost his serve from 40-0. Djokovic keeps his cool, a Kyrgios shank putting him 30-0 up. F-words aplenty, naughty Nick, but he does unleash a bomb that Djokovic cannot return for 30-15. The same goes for 30-30, as Djok watches a missile fly by. Set point arrives when the rim of his racket spins the ball out of play, and then comes a missed return down the line. There is sarcastic applause from Kyrgios for his box. All their fault, clearly.
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Djokovic 4-6 6-3 5-4 Kyrgios*
A 21st ace for Kyrgios, then a 22nd, then comes another, challenged by Djokovic, and lost, and his players’ box gets some grief now. But then two points come his way, and Kyrgios can only net for 40-30. And a winner, whipped down the line, after a short rally, takes it to deuce, and then a break point, and one that’s coughed up, and Djokovic wiull serve for the second set.
*Djokovic 4-6 6-3 4-4 Kyrgios
Djokovic holds to love, nice and easy for him.
Gerry Thorn emails in: “...when a player challenges, is persuaded not to by the Umpire, and the commentators then report that the ball was in? That was Jabeur in yesterday’s women’s singles finals. And how come the media have access to all the Hawkeye calls and the Umpire doesn’t? Not an issue when most of the line calls are good, but there have been far too many bad calls this year. Commentators also reported that two serves by the losing pair in one of the doubles games were called out, when both were apparently in. Not good enough!!”
So does Chris Healy: “This is a gripping final. But I’m curious why Kyrgios’s white cap slowly turns green over the course of a match. It was the same in previous rounds. Odd. I’ll stick my neck put and say Djokovic will win this. He keeps his head while others around him are losing theirs.”
Mike Jelley: “There’s a lot of chat on the Beeb about Krygios being entertaining and authentic with his overt emotionality. Am I the only one to find it boring, disrespectful and tedious? If his personality was 10% the equal of his talent, he could have been one of the greats. As it is, he’ll go down as a circus footnote on tennis history.”
Djokovic 4-6 6-3 3-4 Kyrgios*
A double fault for 15-15, and then Kyrgios is beaten by a big winner from Djokovic. Some rude words come out. Big Nick is gabbling on, and challenges a call, winning a point for 30-30. A huge serve sends Djokovic falling, and Kyrgios is ranting and raving. Prince George looks on, looking at the nasty man saying rude words but holding his serve nonetheless.
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*Djokovic 4-6 6-3 3-3 Kyrgios
Djokovic will not be getting distracted by Kyrgios. He ain’t no Tsitsipas, bro. Kyrgios is he losing his cool, and it’s 40-0 soon enough. And game, with another of those gentle drop shots. Kyrgios turns away as if in disgust.
Djokovic 4-6 6-3 2-3 Kyrgios*
With the tennis rabona, Kyrgios somehow wins a point, Djokovic missing a volley. He almost does it again, Kyrgios missing a forehand that can’t make it over the net. But a forehand cruncher hands him game point. Kyrgios is still playing well, picking his shots well but here comes disquiet. Another double fault, an untimely one, and it’s deuce. He gets a code violation for complaining about noises off. He’s done worse and got away with it. “I am being distracted in a Wimbledon final, she’s drunk out of her mind, she’s the one who looks like she’s had about 700 drinks, bro,” he tells the ump, having held his serve. Is this the blowup?
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*Djokovic 4-6 6-3 2-2 Kyrgios
A delay in play? Some kind of protest seems to be taking place in the stand. It doesn’t last long, and Kyrgios begins the game with a winning volley before a Djokovic ace. Kyrgios challenges a call down the baseline and is inches off being right. Soon enough, it’s 40-15, with a whipped backhand, and game with a big serve unable to be returned.
Djokovic 4-6 6-3 1-2 Kyrgios*
The drop shot is damaging Kyrgios, but he levels at 15-15 when the court’s bounce catches out Djokovic. Then Kyrgios produces his first double fault of the match, and doesn’t challenge when the ball looks in. Is he becoming distracted? He has no answer to a passing shot that means deuce. The shouting at his box resumes, but then a massive second serve and a huge ace see him out.
*Djokovic 4-6 6-3 1-1 Kyrgios
Djokovic’s turn to make some noise as he top-spins a baseliner to level at 15-15, then comes an ace that crashes into a spot near the boom mic for a satisfying sound. But then some self-admonishment as he nets a backhand. A battle of chip and charge is won by Krygios shovelling his attempt out of bounds, and Djokovic serves out. He’s getting by far the better of the rallies now.
Djokovic 4-6 6-3 0-1 Kyrgios*
Krygios wobbling? At 15-30, it looks possible but then comes a huge serve, and then he loses the run of a rally, and can only miss when sent scrambling by a drop shot. Break point at 30-40, but that’s saved by backhand stop volley. Then comes Djokovic, his eye now in, cranking a winner for another break. This one is saved, by a volley that only Kyrgios could deliver, scooped just over the net by those long arms. “C’mon,” says Big Nick as he aces himself to safety.
Djokovic takes the second set 6-3 to level at 1-1
Kyrgios makes it to 0-30 by galloping to chase down a scooped volley. The best play and the loudest roar of the match so far. Then, when Djokovic misreads a forehand, three break points come into play. The first is saved as Krygios starts talking to himself again, or whoever will listen. Then he barks at his coaches and friends in the box as an ace sails by. Then, they get another volley as he misses a backhand return and it’s back at deuce. Another break point as Djokovic misses the baseline and loses a challenge. But an amazing save from Djokovic, a spinning, swirling drop shot, that bounces lower than a snake’s belly. A fourth break point saved. Then a chopping backhand forces game point and a Krygios tantrum. “Say something,” he bellows, but Djokovic drills in a serve that cannot be returned. “0-40,” wails Kyrgios, who seems not to realise it was him that squandered his chance.
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Djokovic 4-6 5-3 Kyrgios*
Kyrgios is taking it quite slow compared to the Olympic pistol-shooting pace of previous rounds. And it doesn’t seem to work for him; Djokovic tempts him into missing a backhand for 30-30. The serve deals Kyrgios out of danger for 40-30 and then to a hold. Now he must find his way back on the Djok serve.
*Djokovic 4-6 5-2 Kyrgios
Kyrgios needs to get back in, and he wins the first rally for a while on the game’s first point. A howl of anguish as he makes a mistake on the next but a fine return for 15-30 opens up an avenue of opportunity. A heavy Djokovic serve - these are new balls - and then another takes the champion to 40-30. Then Kyrgios goes for broke and can’t stay within the lines.
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Djokovic 4-6 4-2 Kyrgios*
The big serve is Kyrgios’ main weapon and it stays on target for an easy hold.
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*Djokovic 4-6 4-1 Kyrgios
Djokovic’s turn to serve like a demon, racing to 30-0, then 40-15 as Kyrgios is foxed by a disguised serve. But Kyrgios may not be done yet, his winner for 40-30 is majestic. And then comes two huge smashes, the first of which is saved by Djok, and it’s deuce. Then, another of those rallies that are now going away from Kyrgios, as he nets for an advantage to Djokovic, who holds when the same happens off the next point. Ominous signs from someone who tends to build up and up as a match progresses.
Djokovic 4-6 3-1 Kyrgios*
Two beautiful returns of serve, and Djokovic inches back into the match. 0-30, and then a whipped backhand, and he’s in possession of three break point chances. Kyrgios starts talking aloud, and then, off a net-cord, Djokovic takes the break. He apologises for his luck but he is back back back.
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*Djokovic 4-6 2-1 Kyrgios
A shovelled backhand from the baseline levels it at 15-15. And Djokovic, still struggling in the long rallies, nets for 30-30. But then comes a better point from him, outlasting Kyrgios for 40-30, and another, a falling leaf of a drop shot wins another exchange and the game.
Djokovic 4-6 1-1 Kyrgios*
A fine return of serve from Djokovic is soon levelled for 15-15 by an ace. Then another, right down the line. And another, down the same line for 40-15. Then comes an odd challenge of a ball he must have seen go in. No matter, a huge serve can’t be returned by the Djokovic wingspan.
*Djokovic 4-6 1-0 Kyrgios
What can Djokovic produce? Losing the first set need be no impairment towards him winning his 21st grand slam. He serves out to love.
Krygios takes the first set 6-4
To serve out the set, Kyrgios begins with an ace. Then, as a rally happens, he chops and slices Djokovic asunder and it’s soon 30-15. But here are nerves, as he misses a very easy backhand volley at the net for 30-30. Then comes a huge second serve that cannot be returned. But at set point, he clanks a backhand wide. It’s deuce. Then comes a big serve, and the first Kyrgios rebuke to his box. No matter, he serves a huge ace and he’s a set up.
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*Djokovic 4-5 Kyrgios
It’s been a while since a rally, but at the end of one at 40-0 up, Djokovic holds his serve to love. Now he must break the Kyrgios serve, something is yet to achieve in any of their meetings.
Djokovic 3-5 Kyrgios*
Three crashing serves for 40-0. Make that four. Awesome. It look just over a minute, he’s lost just two points on serve.
*Djokovic 3-4 Kyrgios
How does Djok respond? Well, though the plaudits go to rabona between the legs from Kyrgios that gets the ball back over the net. Still, Djokovic holds to love.
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Djokovic 2-4 Kyrgios*
Can Kyrgios now defend his own serve? The answer is to love. He clatters a baseline winner for 15-0, then comes an ace, his fourth. Then a slam-dunk backhand for 40-0. Then a low volley at the net gets the job done.
Kyrgios gets an early break
*Djokovic 2-3 Kyrgios
For the first time, the Kyrgios forehand is served to, and successfully, only for a drop shot to catch out the champion for 15-15. At 15-30, there is a glimmer, and Kyrgios challenges a line call for a let-cord, and successfully. He returns the second serve, and then wins the rally with two low backhands that send Djokovic sprawling. Two break points, and Djokovic saves the first, digging out a return with supreme defence. The second is a double, and the break point is taken, handed over. “Let’s go,” barks Djokovic.
Djokovic 2-2 Kyrgios*
After the first break and sit down, the crowd murmurs away. Kyrgios begins with a big serve, and then Djokovic can’t get over the net from the baseline. A grunt signifies a thrashing ace for 40-0. No grunt this time, and a faked underarm is followed by another, skidding ace.
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*Djokovic 2-1 Kyrgios
It’s breathless, speedy stuff. Djokovic scampers to win a battle of drops for 15-0, but then can only watch as Kyrgios clatters a winner home. High-quality play from the Australian. Djokovic regains his steps with a good serve. 30-15. Then Kyrgios is tempted into attempting a baselines pass. It doesn’t come off. And Djokovic serves out.
Djokovic 1-1 Kyrgios*
Again, a long rally sees Djokovic go long, for 15-0, and then another sees Kyrgios win the rally at the net, dinking a volley home for 30-0. Then comes a 133mph second-serve ace, 40-0. Then comes an underarm serve, but Djokovic reads it, and comes to the net to punch home. When it goes to 40-30, it looks like the tomfoolery might be a mistake, but then another long rally is won by a chopping, fading backhand.
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And away we go, Djokovic to serve
He begins with a double fault, and a murmur from the crowd. The second point sees Kyrgios unable to return, as does the third. The first long rally sees Kyrgios tempt Djokovic into going long, and it’s 30-30. A good serve from Djokovic, is followed up by a fine second serve that Kyrgios’s backhand can’r keep the ball in. The champion takes the first game.
A smile from Kyrgios as a young man carries out the toss, and then as he and Djokovic pose for a photo. He seems determined to enjoy himself. Both players are in white caps, you needn’t guess which one has his on backwards. They begin a gentle knock-up. Kyrgios elected to receive serve having won the toss. Unorthodox, as ever.
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And here they come, to loud applause, and loud roars. No boos yet. All in good time.
The two players are making their final preparations, up the steps in the hallowed halls of Wimbledon. Not long now. Nick Kyrgios is the first man out, and trying his best to look casual, his loping stride giving off some real masculinity. Djokovic, the old stager, hangs back, doing his stretches.
There was a first-time winner yesterday, will there be one by the end of today?
After navigating all of the nerves and tension that accompanied her maiden grand slam final and an extremely solid start from her opponent, Rybakina fought her way back from a one set deficit to overpower Ons Jabeur, the third seed, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 and become Wimbledon champion.
The 23-year-old is the first Kazakh player to win a grand-slam singles tournament. Having been born in Russia, she switched her nationality to Kazakhstan in 2018 after being offered financial support by the national federation. The Duchess of Cambridge was present to hand over the trophy.
Odd as it may seem, these two have only met twice on the ATP Tour, and Kyrgios has won both times. Per Sporting News.
Both meetings came in 2017 and on both occasions, Kyrgios won in straight sets. Their first match came at the quarter final at Acapulco in Mexico. While the match only lasted two sets, it was a hard-fought encounter in which Kyrgios won 7-6(9) 7-5.
Kyrgios’ serve was the difference on that occasion as he sent down an incredible 25 aces to Djokovic’s two. Their second clash was just a few weeks later, this time in the round of 16 at the ATP Masters Indian Wells.
Kyrgios again emerged victorious 6-4 7-6(3) on the back of his winning 86 per cent of points on first serve. Both previous meetings came on hard court as opposed to the grass courts at Wimbledon.
Novak Djokovic’s press conference was a little more circumspect.
The experience that I have at this level, playing in the finals against someone that has never played a Grand Slam final, could be slightly in my favour. But at the same time, knowing who he [Krygios] is and how he goes about his tennis and his attitude on the court, he doesn’t seem to be falling under pressure much.
He plays lights-out every time he steps out onto the court. Just [has] a lot of power in his serve and his game. So I’m sure he’s going to go for it. No doubt he’s going to be aggressive. I expect him to do that.
Some incendiary quotes from “Nasty Nick” in his press conference. Scorched earth very much the policy here.
The only great that’s ever been supportive of me the whole time has been Lleyton Hewitt. He kind of knows that I kind of do my own thing. I’m definitely the outcast of the Australian players. It sucks.
It’s pretty sad because I don’t get any support from any of the other Australian tennis players, the male side.
Not the players, but like the past greats. It’s weird they just have like a sick obsession with tearing me down for some reason. “I never thought I’d be here at all, to be brutally honest with you,” he said. “But I’m just super proud and I’m just ready to go. I’m going to give it my all and we’ll see what happens.
Weather Report: no, not Jaco
Pistorius
Pastorius, but it’s the hottest day of Wimbledon so far.
Today, Britain is expected to bask in sunshine with people in London and south-east England told to expect highs of 29C and clear skies. Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said: “We should see pretty much wall-to-wall sunshine across the bulk of England and Wales and a good portion of Scotland.”
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And a Wimbledon fortnight photo essay from Tom Jenkins.
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An Australian perspective.
Djokovic had history. A year earlier, he’d penned an open letter to the people of Australia, which ought to have been grounds for a 14-day quarantine in itself. Some of his more lowly-ranked brethren were holed up in hotels whacking forehands against fridges, trapping rodents and going nuts. Djokovic’s call for preferential treatment fell on deaf ears.
But he really pushed his luck this January. Djokovic’s mug led the news for more than a week. His supporters were camped outside his quarantine hotel, singing Balkan folk songs. The live stream of his visa appeal was bedevilled by lengthy dropouts, porn and spamming. The local newspapers published columns by comedians, immigration lawyers and experts on Serbian nationalism. They pondered which actor would play him in a mini-series. The prime minister, always energised on border control matters, played the hard man.
Tumaini Carayol previewed the battle of the bad guys.
In the final, Kyrgios will reacquaint himself with Novak Djokovic, who he has had a turbulent relationship with. In a 2019 interview with the No Challenges Remaining podcast, Kyrgios unloaded on Djokovic, claiming he was obsessed with being liked. It was a one-sided dispute, with Djokovic never criticising Kyrgios publicly and he was confused by Kyrgios’s public hostility given their previous amicable encounters.
But in January, Kyrgios supported Djokovic when he was detained and then deported from Australia. While Kyrgios joked they now have a “bit of a bromance”, Djokovic was less enthusiastic, but he expressed his appreciation for Kyrgios’s support: “When it was really tough for me in Australia, he was one of the very few players that came out publicly and supported me and stood by me. That’s something I truly appreciate. So I respect him for that a lot.”
Djokovic: “It took you five years to say something nice about me.”
Kyrgios: “But I defended you when it mattered.”
Djokovic: “You did, I appreciate that.”
Kyrgios: “We friends now?”
Djokovic: “If you are inviting me for a drink or dinner, I accept. PS winner of tomorrow pays.”
Kyrgios: “Deal, let’s go to a nightclub and go nuts.”
This is a day for sad goodbyes.
Who else could have done a court-side chat with Chris Evert that went straight in on her ovarian cancer and still kept the mood high? Who else could have made a new wave of British hopefuls – including the surprise semi-finalist Cameron Norrie – so comfortable under the sudden spotlight?
Updated
Preamble
If it can’t be Rafa Nadal that Novak Djokovic faces to try and win his 21st grand slam, then why not Nick Kyrgios, the beneficiary of Nadal’s injury withdrawal. This does feel like a case of bad guy versus villain, with apologies to all the Djoko and Big Nick fans out there. Controversy follows both, though in different forms perhaps best not gone into here. Can Krygios, with his pistol serve deal with Djokovic, the sport’s ultimate competitor, or can he get into the head of a six-time singles champion at SW19? Can his silly games get into the head of Djokovic, who these days is not as implacable as a few years back. Kyrgios is going for his first ever singles grand slam, having been seen as someone who had squandered his talent. There is something of Djokovic’s close friend and mentor about Kyrgios, and the two finalists do seem to have something of an affinity, a shared outsider status despite one of them being one of the three greatest men’s players to have ever hit a crosscourt forehand. It could be a classic, it could be a walkover, it’s bound to feature one or both of them roaring like a lion somewhere along the line.
It starts at 2pm, London time.
