No matter the player on the other side of the net, Novak Djokovic is simply unbeatable at Wimbledon.
Djokovic captured his fourth consecutive Wimbledon title on Sunday afternoon, beating a fourth different final opponent. All-time greats, huge servers, and all-around amazing talents have thrown everything they’ve had at the Serb, but time and time again he has proven to be too good. That was the case during Sunday’s championship match, in which Nick Kyrgios came out firing but ultimately went down 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3).
The 35-year-old improved to 7-1 lifetime in finals at the All-England Club and won his 21st major overall–putting him one behind Rafael Nadal and one ahead of Roger Federer.
Djokovic was the superior player almost the entire way on Sunday, but margins in grass-court tennis are often quite small regardless of the situation and this showdown really came down to nothing more than two games. Twice Kyrgios lost a game from either 40-0 or 0-40 ahead, first on Djokovic’s serve late in the second set and then on his own serve late in the third.
That left the 27-year-old Aussie in a two sets to one hole, thus heaping almost all of the pressure on his shoulders in the fourth. Although Kyrgios did well to deliver some crucial holds en route to a tiebreaker, it was all but over when he double-faulted on the first point. Djokovic was utterly dominant on his own serve after the first set, so a quick 3-0 lead in the ‘breaker was insurmountable. The Serb eventually converted his third championship point at 6-3 when Kyrgios netted a backhand pass.
“(There were) two key moments,” Djokovic reflected. “I felt slight difference in those two moments when I was love-40, serving for the set. I felt more pressure than when I was 40-love down, 4-all in the third; he was cruising through his game. I obviously wanted to play every point regardless of being 40-love down; just wanted to practice trying to get his serves back (and) eventually wait for the opportunity. It was presented, actually. He played maybe a couple of loose points, double-fault, deuce, started talking to his box…. I felt maybe that’s the moment where I could break his serve, which happened.
“It was a huge momentum shift I think because up to that point we were quite even. (Being) two sets to one up, obviously things are looking slightly different. I felt maybe in the fourth he was not moving from (the) back of the court as [well] as he was doing that in the first two to three sets…. In the tiebreak when it mattered I managed to read his serve (a) couple of times. (I) blocked his serve back in play–made him play an extra shot, and he missed.”
Djokovic hasn’t been missing at all in SW19. He has now won 28 matches in a row, during which he previously defeated Kevin Anderson, Roger Federer (13-12 in the fifth set), and Matteo Berrettini in finals.
But it never gets old.
“(I’m) obviously over the moon with joy and happiness of experiencing this moment once again,” Djokovic assured. “I’ve said it many times: this tournament is extra special for me because it has been the first tournament that I’ve ever watched as a kid that got me to start playing tennis. I don’t take any wins for granted, and particularly not in Wimbledon. [On the] contrary, actually every time feels a bit different (and) special in its own way.”
For Kyrgios, the wait continues–even though this was by far his best-ever Grand Slam result.
“I felt like the trophy was definitely attainable today,” the world No. 40 commented. “(I) played a hell of a first set and put myself in a position to obviously take a stranglehold of the match.
“He’s just really composed. It’s weird; I felt like he didn’t do anything amazing today. He returned obviously the way he returns. I feel like he’s just a great returner. But he was just so composed. That’s what I was just thinking to myself. In big moments, it just felt like he was never rattled. He just looks completely within himself the whole time. (It) didn’t look like he was playing overaggressive, even though it felt like he was playing big.
“Hats off to him. That was a hell of a match. I thought I served well. I put myself in a position to win, but I just wasn’t able to play those clutch points well at all today.”
For challengers trying to take down Djokovic at Wimbledon, that sounds familiar.
too good
If it wasn’t for that AUS Gvt premeditated vaccination stunt, Novak would’ve been an absolute GOAT today with the most number of GSs. He is still the leader on the GOAT list given the other achievements and I am sure he has still few slams in him. Congrats!
Baloney! That was NO stunt! Rules are rules! It’s just that Novak is a narcissist who thought they would make an exception just for him! Too bad! The works does not in fact revolve around Novak!
He lied on his visa. Then he blamed his manager. He was traveling in the two weeks before the AO. He got his high powered lawyers to fight in court in Australia. But in the end he was sent packing. If he wanted to play then he should have gotten the vaccine like everyone else!
No rewriting of reality! The one who has the most slams is Rafa! Not to mention his 14 RG titles. The more lies you throw out, the more ridiculous you look!
The world does not revolve around Novak!
‘the more ridiculous you look ‘
I agree with that.
If you talking about Dennis, maybe not 🙂
Jesus, stop fuming…
There are no ifs. He is at 21 period today. No ifs no buts.
There can be multiple ifs for many other players what if Rafa had not been injured in 25 gs, what if Murray did not have hip issue in 17 after he ended 16 as no 1, what if delpo did not suffer injury fate he did etc.
Till you win a slam ,you cannot be the winner..and Novak has lost 3 ao opens in 14,17,18 ..no one is invincible in any slam including rafa at RG
2018, 2019 , 2021 and 2022- each time he was just too good over many close matches roof or not.I take my hat off to Novak even he beat my favourite Fed in the best Wimby final of all time.
Congrats to all the Novak fans here, especially the Elizabeth, hope you enjoyed the final xx😘
Thank you, darling Alison.
Thanks.
Im really hoping we see Novak in the US hard court swing vaccinated or not though Id prefer the former.
Nice to see you, Ali, and I hope you and your hubby are well. You won’t see me posting on these pages, but you can find me on the WTA thread here and in TX.
This TG tight clutch of Rafa fans is not a site that welcomes a mild Novak fan. Never can I use Majestic to describe Novax’s demeanor during the match, and I used the word exquisite to describe his tennis. And the Rafa gang dropped the hammer on me. I was surprised at Ramara and LS; usually very fair posters. Suppose they would have asked me about my word choice. That’s a humane response. A mad dog pile is what I got. Plus, someone deleted my post before I had a chance.
I am a fan of his tennis, and I made a mistake by being in awe of his win over Nick Kyrgios. Pardon me for expressing myself in real-time. NK is more liked here than Novax; I get that now. I wrote on Twitter to Novax and asked him to please get the jab is what I said; I see him winning AO again, although it is his right to be NoVax for life. I’m still in awe of him, jabbed or not.
I hope he does get vaxxed but if he wants to miss out on more Slams, thats up to him.
As for NK being more liked on here, I would say thats conditional who he’s playing. I did read a couple of frank admissions of dislike towards both just before the final.
Nice to see you also ,RC, and while I will be posting less often from now on Ill see you in TDC. Which already isnt looking too good …again
Oh and rc, I do remember one of the more balanced and knowledgeable Rafa fans on here being hit with the same thing-say anything positive about Novak,you aren’t a true Rafa fan
Well I must say I am not surprised! The one who threw out the insults and cheap shots is now having a pity party! I have been on a number of forums and this is the most civilized. Anyone who chooses to stay on that tennis site that shall not be named, is welcome to do so. The worst of the worst Novak fans have a place of honor there.
Again resorting to nasty and personal attacks against Rafa fans. But we did not go there. Sone disagreed with the majestic adjective. I am so sick and tired of having to say over and over again his Novak’s achievements mahe him one of the greats. But it makes no difference here to those who persist in trashing Rafa fans. Why? Because we happen to be in the majority. I have been on forums where I am not in the majority so I know what it feels like. It can be difficult at times. I am especially upset to see Luckystar criticized. She has a wealth of technical knowledge and has spoken very highly about Novak’s game and his strengths on many occasions. I like how she includes specific examples of matches or years in a player’s life and both stats and facts. She does not need me to defend her, but I feel that I need to express my gratitude to bother her and VR for their analysis of the big 3 and the many matches we have watched. They are both Rafa fans, but love tennis enough to keep it real.
I will never forget the filth I had to read on this site after Novak beat Rafa in the semis at RG last year. Four weeks this garbage was spewed out. Gloating and insulting both Rafa and his fans. Yet when Novak lost the USO last year to Meddy and the calendar slam, Rafa fans did not behave like the Novak fans.
But the propaganda persists here by those who cannot tolerate an honest disagreement. Kyrgios is NOT liked more on this site! That is outrageous. Nobody ever accused him of doing anything great in this sport.
Oh and the latest I have heard is that Novak will not be given an exemption to play at the USO. Maybe the rule will be changed, but there has been a big increase in the cases of Covid. We do not seem to to be done with it yet. It is unconscionable for someone to use conspiracy theories or spurious excuses to not get vaccinated.
I have been on the site that shall not be named. You can have it and the rabid Novak fans who accuse Rafa of having necrosis of the foot due to over use of steroids. I have seen what some Novak fans are capable of in their sickening attacks on Rafa. You are welcome to stay with them. That is your choice.
Autocorrect again.
I am sick and tired of having to say over and over HOW Novak’s achievements MAKE him one of the greats. *
I feel I need to express my gratitude to BOTH her and VR. *
Seems a lot of effort to state the blindingly obvious
Actually talking about Rafa losing RG last year, and the abuse suffered by Rafa fans, interesting to reread the discussion on here and see who was giving out the abuse…
Djoko or no Djoko, I see a fit and healthy Rafa as the favourite at the USO – his records there speaks for itself. Having missed a few USOs -2012, 2014, 2020, 2021 – he still was able to make seven SFs, five Finals winning four of them! His success rate there is only second to Fed’s!
I do hope that Djoko would not miss out on any slams, so that should Rafa meet Djoko again at the slams, Rafa can have the chance to beat him, and it’s not only at RG.
I’ll look forward to that; too bad Rafa had to have his abdominal injury this Wimbledon, if not, I had high hope that he would beat this Djoko in the final. As for beating Kyrgios, a fit and healthy Rafa would’ve beaten the overrated Kyrgios here in the SF.
Have to agree with you Luckystar, a shame we didn’t get to see Rafa one more time in a Wimbledon final. Obviously it would have been a very different kind of match, but didn’t think Djokovic’s level looked that spectacular, so he would have had his chances. Granted Djokovic didn’t need to extend himself since Nick, despite serving well, couldn’t hang in the rallies. In the way of these things, I guess we’ll never know!
Lucky,
I completely agree with your thoughts. You said it so well that there is nothing I can add.
I really looked forward to Rafa playing in the final. He was looking so good. He has gotten the better of Kyrgios in recent years.
Yes, it would be nice to see a Rafa-Djokovic match at USO. It has been years since Nole was relatively this fresh going into USO swing. So the 2 could really produce a bonkers of a match should the 2 meet there.
As far as Rafa’s chances at winning the Wimby final had he not been injured are concerned, Novak still would have been the favourite. Yes, Rafa would have beaten Kyrgios but that too would have extracted a lot of effort on his part. For all the slack Kyrgios is getting for his performance in the Final, I think he really served big time throughout the match and probably would have beaten any other player on the tour with that performance or at least took them to 5 sets. Rafa and Nole are well capable of shifting gears based on their opponents level. Had it been any other surface, maybe I would have rated Rafa’s chances a bit more than Nole’s, but here on grass, Novak’s serve and return trumps that of Rafa’s and that tilts the balance in his favour for me. Tough luck for Berretinni that he had to withdraw because of COVID, else who knows, he really might have had won the title given his form.
Nah nah, Rafa was and would be good at dealing with Kyrgios! Hadn’t he beaten Kyrgios the last time they played at Wimbledon? Rafa was playing even better tennis now than before. I can’t say the same for Kyrgios, for he had to go five sets, resorted to some ‘dirty’ tricks to disrupt his tough opponents before getting his wins. Rafa won’t be bothered by that.
Novak no doubt was good in the final, but his opponent was making tons of errors even when 40-0 or 40-15 up in the service game and went on to lose the game and the set! It was his opponent’s first slam final, some nervous moments when he had to hold serve to stay in the set.
Rafa vs Djoko might go five sets and I’m not sure Djoko would definitely come out the winner. I think the win at RG would help Rafa mentally, esp when he came from behind to win the fourth set and to win the match in that QF!
We’ll never know for sure of course, as it has or had not happened.
Lets face it ,Rafa would have been the fave all his career to win everything if not for injury and the odd closed roof
*would’ve
Not my favorite player, but hats off to Joker….just too good.
Big Al your welcome ….
amy,
I left a message for you on the non-tennis forum. You are probably busy with work, but when you get a chance I hood you read it.
😍
Hope you read it! Autocorrect again!
The best part about Wimbledon 2022 is that despite Novak winning it, Rafa is still at 22 slams and Novak is at 21.
Separately, its s shame that the younger generation is completely useless in stopping Novak. he feasted on them in 2021, did so again in wimbly 2022. Only Rafa was able to stop him at RG, otherwise he would have won RG as well.
Uh oh! Don’t you know you will be labeled blind, narrow minded and think the world revolves around Rafa?
Seriously, thanks for keeping it real. I was really looking forward to Rafa playing Nivsk in the final of Wimbledon. I liked his chances!
😉
Wondering why does it always have to end up in a debate as to who is better among the three. If Roger wouldn’t have been around and his records weren’t there, Rafa wouldn’t have played for so long and neither would Novak. They have spurred each other on to greater heights.
The best part about them playing each other is all matches start on a coin toss and are decided by a few points here and there. As a tennis fan it is better when all three are healthy and playing. Pity that Federer’s prime did not coincide with Novak’s bloom starting in 2010 onwards.
Exactly, and the game evolves. If Djokovic arrived before Federer, there’s a chance he wouldn’t be half the player he is. However, the Big 3 were probably the final stage in the evolution of the game. I’m doubtful we will see a better performance than what these 3 delivered throughout their tennis careers.
And as I’ve been saying all along, most things in life are circumstantial. Are the big 3 better than previous generations? I doubt it.
The Seventies were really the boom years for tennis thanks to TV.These players didn’t have the benefits of modern training,equipment etc.so they had shorter careers.
Please pay close attention, so we don’t have to repeat this ever again.
https://youtu.be/CGKsKU0P3oo?t=12
@atul1985
C’mon dear! Let’s just drop the bias! Even Rafa has won against the same tour players. So the younger generation has been completely shameless in letting both of them feast upon the slams.
Why should only Novak cop the blame! Rafa deserves it too, right? 😄
It’s not bias! It’s what atul thinks. He is allowed to have his opinion.
Yeah, I guess I understand where Atul was coming from.
I mean Tsitsipas was two sets to nil up in the FO final last year, but still managed to lose it! Meddy at least had beaten Djoko at the USO, so he’s not useless in a slam final, but twice he lost to Rafa at the HC slams and both times it went five sets ( once Meddy chase from behind when he’s two sets down, and once he let a two sets lead slipped away). As for Berrettini in the Wimbledon final, his BH was his weakness so Djoko could exploit that, and Berrettini could just manage to win one set so he wasn’t really a threat, unlike Tsitsipas in that FO final.
I can’t say the youngsters are all useless, I think Meddy, Zverev and now Alcaraz can make some noise at the slams. As for Sinner, he simply isn’t that fit physically I feel, to win B2B against two top ten opponents if he had to go the distance to beat them.
FAA is up and coming but he just couldn’t sustain a high level tournament after tournament; Shapo is heading southwards these days, don’t know what happened to him. Ruud is only good on clay but definitely far from Rafa’s level.
I think we miss someone like Thiem, whom before his injuries was having wins against the big three more than anyone had. He was able to beat Djoko (at FO) and Rafa (at AO) at the slams.
I like Thiem and hope for his successful comeback; he’s playing at Bastad now, into his first QF in his comeback from injury.
Lucky,
I appreciate reading your thoughts. I think people should be fee to have their say here without being labeled as blind, narrow-minded or biased.
It is disturbing to me to see anyone persist in throwing around negative comments because others have a different point of view. This is a tennis forum and people will disagree. That is the way it should be. But if you can’t tolerate a different opinion and resort to personal attacks, then you are crossing a line.
I think atul was right about the young guys. I do think Meddy will still have his opportunities at slams. He did beat Novak at the USO last year. Zverev looked really good at RG before he was injured. We will see about Alcaraz. I don’t know that he is ready now to win a slam, but going forward I think he will have his chances.
Rafa was playing very well at Wimbledon. I liked his chances in a final with Novak. Even Rafa talked about how well he was playing when he had to withdraw. I also think Rafa has gotten the better of Kyrgios. He does not let his antics bother him. Something Tsitsipas needs to learn.
Should be FREE*
I also agree about Thiem. He is the one I thought would maje his make his mark at the slams. Such a shame that he got injured.
Okay @nny. So, please clarify it to me as to how does facing the same competition and beating them makes one a superior and the other an inferior one?
I will wait for your reply
@Luckystar
I am too waiting eagerly waiting for Thiem to regain back his game and confidence. He played some much needed tough matches in Bastad. His BH is almost there. The FH is improving with every match.
He was the only complete player apart from the Big 3 who didn’t have any apparent weakness. Became a really good player at the nets, something which Meddy and Sasha severely lack.
Id agree apart from his record on grass isnt great .
Playing again in Gstaad- the conditions will help his game
abhirf,
I have no idea what you are going on about. Trying to stir things up? Your response to me was quite different in tone from your response to Lucky.
I have made my points. I don’t owe you any response. So if you are waiting for one, you will be waiting a long time. If I thought you were interested in having a reasonable, respectful discussion, then I might feel differently.
After reading how Rafa fans are blind, narrow minded and think the world revolves around Rafa, I am not of a mind to waste anymore of my time.
It’s the same with most things in life. The 70s, 80s and 90s had the best music and movies, F1 peaked in the 80s early 90s when petrol engine technology made it’s greatest advancements. Senna was arguably the greatest F1 driver of all time. Cricket peaked in the 80s and 90s, as well. Rugby peaked in the 90s and 2000s with the dominance of the All Blacks and then they started winning so much it got boring. Horse racing peaked in the 90s and 2000s until the animal activists arrived and people got sick of seeing horses break down. Things evolve and then they peak, however some things continue to evolve due to being at a different stage or having a longer time period.
The reason things evolve and peak is because it becomes a cultural phenomenon. And cultural phenomena don’t last forever.
Yes.I could throw in comparison between a WW1 fighter ace with Neal Armstrong just to highlight further how impossible it is.
‘I think people should be free to have their say here without being labelled as blind, narrow-minded or biased.’
Good, but its a tad hypocritical on such a one player board.
# No Rafa no tennis
‘It is disturbing to me to see anyone persist in throwing around negative comments because others have a different point of view. This is a tennis forum and people will disagree. That is the way it should be. But if you can’t tolerate a different opinion and resort to personal attacks, then you are crossing a line.’
A poster , who apparently should have had your back, told me to f*** off repeatedly after Djoko won the French last year- because I gave my different point of view, celebrating the win but was told it only happened because of injury.
But thats my last reply to this nonsense and I wont be wasting my time on any more of it.
Missing Dominic too 🙁
@abhirf – Sorry, no bias here. Novak has basically been winning far more slams than Nadal in recent years (the gap went from 17-12 to just 22-21). That is a testament to Novak’s skills, but also to the lack to skilled younger players. In recent years, all Rafa has done is win a bunch of FO’s (where competition does not matter to him) and the AO this year. Novak won 3 slams last year to Rafa’s zero, beating youngsters in the finals. What was laughable was that he was still fav. at FO 2021 even after losing first 2 sets. Its just been too easy for him to keep winning (all he has needed to do is stay healthy).
Also, just to add here, the reason for Nadal underperformance relative to Novak in recent years has been his own injuries (missing large part of 2020 and 2021). Otherwise, yes, he would have been feasting on these younger folks too. If only a 36 year old Nadal stopped Novak from winning RG and was the most likely candidate who could have stopped Novak from winning Wimbly, then its safe to say that the younger generation is useless.
Time out of any sport through injuries is understandable , but what about the use of painkillers? In what cases are they justifiable , how much improvement in performance is OK and should all sportspeople have access to them – while all legal? In tennis ,theres probably many historic cases where the result of matches or whole tournaments would have been very different had they been allowed or not. eg not being able to walk, or winning the whole caboodle. If allowed once, why not always?
Since you bring it up, the 2021 RG semi as an example.
I would clarify the legality of their use might not be in question but the ethics are in certain situations.