Nick Kyrgios dropped major praise on Novak Djokovic ahead of the 2023 season. Nick presented Novak as the favorite at three Majors next year, especially at Wimbledon, if he does not stop him en route to the eighth All England Club crown!
Kyrgios and Djokovic met in this year’s Wimbledon final, with the Serb scoring a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 triumph in three hours. It was Kyrgios’ first Major final, and he gave his best to follow the rival’s pace and remain in touch.
Djokovic started all over after the opening set and defended five out of six break chances to keep the pressure on the other side. He broke Nick for the first time in a career in the second set and kept everything under control in the third to build the advantage.
There were no break chances in the fourth set, and the defending champion claimed it in the tie break to seal the deal and lift the seventh Wimbledon trophy. Nick made a perfect start and claimed the opener 6-4 in swift 31 minutes.
Both players served over 70%, and the returners claimed 12 points in ten games. Nick grabbed seven and converted them into the desired break that carried him in front. He broke Novak at 2-2 after the Serb’s double fault and held after deuce in game ten with an ace down the T line for 6-4.
Novak pushed hard on the return at 2-1 in the second set and created three break points with a backhand crosscourt winner. He seized the first after a lucky net cord winner for a massive 3-1 lead.
Nick Kyrgios lost his first Major final to Novak Djokovic.
Both players produced comfortable holds in the next three service games, and Djokovic served for the set at 5-3.
Suddenly, he found himself 40-0 behind after a couple of loose strokes. Novak stayed calm and denied four break points to prolong the game. He fired a service winner on a set point to lock the overall result after 70 minutes.
With a boost on his side, Djokovic controlled the pace in set number three, losing six points behind the initial shot and securing a late break to build the advantage. Nick lost the ground a bit in game three and wasted two game points to bring Novak back to deuce.
The Aussie fired two booming serves to get the game home and remain on the positive side. The Serb served well in game four and clinched it with a service winner for 2-2. Like the previous service games, Kyrgios squandered a 40-15 lead in game five before wrapping it up after a deuce for another advantage.
The Aussie received a warning for swearing after being interrupted by someone from the crowd, but he still held and stayed in touch. Djokovic served well in games six and eight to keep the pressure on the other side. He created a break chance after Kyrgios’ double fault at 4-4, and Nick netted a backhand to fall behind.
Novak held at 30 in game ten to wrap up the set and move closer to the finish line. Both players served well in the fourth set’s opening ten games and gave the returners no chances. Kyrgios closed the 11th game with an ace, and Djokovic served to stay in the set for the second time.
He produced another fine hold to lock the result at 6-6 and introduce a tie break, a must-winning one for Nick. It was Novak’s first tie break at this year’s Wimbledon, and he opened a 2-0 lead with a volley winner.
Djokovic grabbed two more mini-breaks for a 4-1 advantage and claimed an extended rally to earn five match points at 5-1. The Aussie saved the first with a forehand winner at the net and fired his 30th ace for 3-6. Novak seized the third match point after the rival’s backhand error to start a massive celebration of his 21st Major crown.
“Unless I stop him, Novak Djokovic is the favorite at Wimbledon. I can not see Novak losing at the Australian Open and the US Open. Daniil Medvedev is capable of stopping him. However, it will be tough for us all to beat him at Majors outside Paris because of his dominance,” Nick Kyrgios said.
