Novak Djokovic's Wimbledon win: the start of a wonderful friendship

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Nick Kyrgios (left) congratulates Novak Djokovic

Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

The beginning of the "bromance":

Novak Djoković and Nick Kyrgios were enemies until the visa farce about the Serb, when he finally had to leave Melbourne because of his vaccination status and could not take part in the Australian Open.

But at the beginning of the year, Kyrgios jumped to the side of the still unvaccinated as one of the few.

Since then, the two tennis stars have understood each other.

During the course of the tournament, the Australian jokingly spoke of a "bromance".

At the award ceremony, this was now also confirmed by the old and new Wimbledon winner.

After Djoković had praised his defeated opponent for his playing class on Center Court, he continued to flatter Kyrgios slightly ironically: "I never thought that I would say so many nice things about you.

It's now officially a bromance and the start of a wonderful friendship.« Kyrgios couldn't resist a hearty laugh even at the moment of defeat.

The result:

Novak Djokovic won the Wimbledon final against Nick Kyrgios in four sets 4: 6, 6: 3, 6: 4 and 7: 6 (7: 3).

For the Serbs, it was the fourth win in a row at the grass classic at the legendary All England Club.

Overall, Djoković has now won the tournament seven times.

In terms of Grand Slam titles, he is 21. Rafael Nadal has one more Major win, Roger Federer one less.

Djoković and the first set

: As in his two previous matches against Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals and Cameron Norrie in the semifinals, the Serb also lost the first set against Kyrgios.

He seemed sluggish and didn't move well.

Kyrgios, on the other hand, dominated the opener with his excellent serve and hard forehands.

It was a serious and mature performance from the 27-year-old in his first Grand Slam final.

But with Djoković you can still set the clock so that sooner or later he will come into the big matches.

Rally of the tournament

: With the score at 5:3 in the second set for Djoković, it was suddenly 0:30.

What followed was probably the most beautiful rally of the tournament.

Djoković shooed Kyrgios and drove him into the corners with powerful backhand strikes.

However, Kyrgios had an answer for everything.

Finally, the Serb played a wonderful short half-volley that bounced very high.

Kyrgios also made that long journey, running the ball and putting it past the plunging Djoković at the last moment before coming up twice.

The audience stamped their feet.

The result was three breakballs.

Kyrgios couldn't use one of them.

The 700 drinks:

In the middle of the third sentence, Kyrgios lost his concentration.

In his opinion, a woman in the audience, who is said to have simply spoken to him while the rallies were going on, also contributed to this.

Kyrgios complained to the chair umpire and asked him to throw the lady from Center Court.

'She's drunk and out of her mind.

There in the first row!« – Kyrgios pointed vehemently at the supposed troublemaker.

"The one with the dress who looks like she's had about 700 drinks." However, referee Renaud Lichtenstein only issued a warning to Kyrgios.

The spectator was allowed to remain seated.

An Expensive Break

: The final was a close match.

Both players never took their eyes off each other - and rarely let up.

And yet there was this one game at the end of the third set that changed a lot.

At the score of 4: 4, Kyrgios served excellently again and quickly had three balls to lead 5: 4.

Djoković managed the feat and, among other things, fended off the balls with two seamless stops and even made the break.

Immediately afterwards, Kyrgios catapulted himself into a kind of self-destruct mode and broke a lot.

He suddenly scolded in a tour towards his box.

She wouldn't really support him anymore.

This continued into the fourth set.

His self-talk also increased, a water bottle flying during a change of sides.

That was the Kyrgios from earlier times again.

He didn't really find his way back after that.

Game of a champion:

Djoković played this final calmly and solidly, but not with that much brilliance.

Kyrgios said the same afterwards.

“I didn't feel like his game was that great.

But he's just incredibly patient.« Djoković played calmly from the baseline.

He also played very precisely and occasionally placed buttery soft first serves that drove Kyrgios wide and which were not returnable.

The close result in the end did not hide one fact: Djoković was the deserved winner on this hot Sunday afternoon in Wimbledon.