A year after he won his last Grand Slam title, Novak Djokovic is finally back at the top of the podium. In a four-set match, Djokovic defeated Australia’s Nick Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) to win Sunday at Wimbledon for his 21st career Grand Slam.
With his seventh Wimbledon crown, Djokovic moved past Roger Federer on the all-time Grand Slam list and is now one behind Rafael Nadal, who sits alone at the top with 22.
To get title No. 21, Djokovic received a tremendous challenge from Kyrgios. Known for his powerful serve, Kyrgios came out firing and took the first set, 6-4, putting the buzz of a potentially massive upset in the air.
But Djokovic quickly turned the tides.
Djokovic won the second set decisively, 6-3, including rallying back from a triple break point to even the match at one set apiece. Later, with the third set tied 4-4, Djokovic overcame a 0-40 deficit to break Kyrgios’ serve and later take the set 6-4.
Throughout the match, the controversial Kyrgios’ frustrations were on clear display. At several points, he was preoccupied with a perceived lack of support from those in his box. Later on, he alerted the umpire to an apparently talkative – and – distracting woman in the front row who “looks like she’s had about 700 drinks.”
All the while, Djokovic remained poised and was able to seize control of the match, taking advantage of even the slightest openings provided by Kyrgios, who was playing in his first Grand Slam final.
In the decisive fourth set, Kyrgios regained his focus and held serve. Djokovic did the same and eventually prevailed in a one-sided tiebreak, 7-3, en route to another Wimbledon championship.
