WIMBLEDON, England — Novak Djokovic defeated Nick Kyrgios in the Wimbledon final on Sunday to win his 21st Grand Slam title.
Djokovic took control of the match late in the third set, then used his trademark combination of strength and discipline to keep Kyrgios at bay and win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3) .
The victory gave Djokovic his seventh men’s singles title at Wimbledon and his fourth in a row. He secured the trophy he cherishes more than anyone else in his 28th consecutive Wimbledon victory, his 39th consecutive victory on Center Court and his 32nd Grand Slam final.
Kyrgios, playing in his first Grand Slam final, was the better player early on, outplaying Djokovic in every facet of the game. But as he often does, Djokovic figured out the little ways he could get the best out of the often erratic Australian on those crucial points that decide a tennis match as tight as this one.
They came in a fourth-set tiebreak as Djokovic powered his way through the forehands and forced Kyrgios into four consecutive unforced errors to take a 6-1 lead.
On his third match point, Djokovic pushed Kyrgios to the back of the court and saw one final backhand hit the net. He raised his hands and, as he had done many times before, tasted the grass at Center Court in celebration.
In the long history of this tournament, there have been finals with more famous champions and players far more beloved than Djokovic and Kyrgios, but it is unlikely that there has ever been one that presented a greater contrast in styles, in tennis summaries, in personality and even in their approaches to tennis and life.
Djokovic, 35, entered the match seeking his 21st Grand Slam title, trailing only Rafael Nadal, who has 22. (Roger Federer, who turns 41 next month and is recovering from knee surgery, has 20. The past week he promised to try to return to Wimbledon one last time.)
Kyrgios hadn’t even reached a Grand Slam semifinal until last week. He has yet to play in one because Nadal withdrew from the tournament with an abdominal tear the day before their semi-final match.
The final brought an irresistible force-meets-immovable-object feel to this prestigious championship. Djokovic is 10-1 in five-set matches at Wimbledon. Kyrgios had never lost one. Djokovic has wins against almost every top player except Kyrgios, who had not lost a set against him in their two matches.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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