(12) Novak Djokovic def. (8) Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(3)
Novak Djokovic is once again a Grand Slam champion. He defeated South Africa’s Kevin Anderson for his fourth Wimbledon crown in three relatively comfortable sets.
The world No. 21 had not raised a major trophy since the 2016 French Open. In fact, it was at the All-England Club two years ago that the first cracks appeared in Djokovic’s game. The Serb went into that tournament as the reigning champion of all 4 Slams, having just won the French Open for the first time over Andy Murray. The overwhelming favorite was shocked in the third round by American Sam Querrey and then by Stan Wawrinka in the final of the U.S. Open later that summer.
Djokovic reasserted himself emphatically in the past fortnight. His five-set semifinal against Rafael Nadal, widely considered the de facto final, showcased some truly brilliant tennis from both men, the winner of which would take on an exhausted Anderson in the title match.
Anderson spent just over six and a half hours on court, including a 50-game fifth set, in the semifinals against American John Isner. He also spent more than four hours on court upsetting defending champion Roger Federer in the quarters. His body, no doubt hampered by tired and sore muscles, did not seem to cooperate in the first two sets. The stinging first serve was nearly nonexistent, as Djokovic breezed to a two-sets-to-none lead.
The match was so one-sided that when Anderson showed signs of life, the crowd got enthusiastically behind the South African. But it was not to be. Anderson finally earned five break opportunities on Djokovic’s serve but was not able to break through. Djokovic closed out the match with a commanding performance in the ensuing tiebreaker.
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congrats, Djoker
I believe both Rafa and Djoker knew their SF was a final especially after a titanic struggle. Thats why Rafa was disappointed.
I enjoyed the Nadal-Djokovic semi immensely. It was just such good tennis, and I believed until the last point that either fellow could have won that match. I also believe that under different circumstances, with the roof open like normal, Nadal would have won in 4.
Regardless, I quite knew that whichever player won that match would win the tournament. I’d hoped Anderson could have recovered and made a match of it, but he’s human and there is only so much one can expect from one’s body.
Nice to have Nole back.
What Cheryl said.
#Tsame
djokovic beat nadull in 2011 already with the open roof so the moonballer wouldn’t have won this time as well. djokovic won, tennis won. god save us from the clay court tennis on grass.
Tsonga beat Fed in 2011, would he have beaten him now. Probably a stupid guy “grassgoat” might have beaten the frenchman this year.
Haters gonna hate.
Never grassgoat,
Get over your guy losing already. Grow up. He was up two sets to one against a guy who had never beaten him. He had match point. But he let it get away from him.
Deal with it. Stop being a cry baby. Wah wah!
Not the most exciting final but Novak is certainly back…………. http://www.138mph.com/wimbledon-mens-final-2018-the-final-word-on-novak-djokovic-versus-kevin-anderson/
As happens so often in the slams the final was an anti-climax. In this instance the ‘real’ final was played out on Saturday in conditions that favoured one player more than the other. A view that no doubt will be debated ad nauseam for a long time.
“‘real’ final was played out on Saturday in conditions that favoured one player more than the other”
nope, conditions were not favorable for djoker. the match was played by the wimbledon rules.
The official expert’s analysis (performance/conditions) on the effects of the roof at Wimbledon:
https://engineeringsport.co.uk/2011/06/27/the-problem-of-the-wimbledon-roof/
So Djokovic beat Nadull FAIR and SQUARE. Case closed.