Wimbledon final: Novak Djokovic defeats Nick Kyrgios to win men’s crown
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By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
WIMBLEDON, England — Novak Djokovic continued his mastery at Wimbledon on Sunday, defeating Nick Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3) to win his seventh title at the All England Club and his fourth in a row.
With the grueling four-set victory, Djokovic, 35, notched his 21st Grand Slam crown, putting him one major title behind Rafael Nadal on the all-time winners’ list. The Serbian star rallied after losing the first set to defeat Kyrgios, 27, ranked No. 40 in the world. He clinched the match by winning the fourth-set tiebreaker.
“I never thought I’m going to say so many nice things about you, considering the relationship,” Djokovic said of his blossoming rivalry with Kyrgios after accepting his winner’s trophy. “OK, it’s officially a bromance.
“Hopefully this is the start of a wonderful relationship, even off the court. Nick, you’ll be back. Not just in Wimbledon but in many finals.”
At 4-4 in the third set, Kyrgios double-faulted to set up a break point, then hit a backhand into the net to give Djokovic the break. Djokovic then served out to win the set.
Yeah, he’s a bit of a god, I’m not gonna lie,” Kyrgios told the crowd.
Djokovic won at Wimbledon for the first time in 2011 when he was 24 years old. He also won the Grand Slam event in 2014, 2015, 2018, and 2019. The event was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was a record 32nd grand slam appearance for Djokovic star and the first for Kyrgios.
For Djokovic, the victory was his 28th straight at Wimbledon. He had been prevented from playing in the Australian Open earlier this year due to a controversy over his COVID-19 exemption.
Kyrgios, who was playing in the Wimbledon final amid allegations of assault against his former girlfriend, had defeated Djokovic in both previous meetings between the pair. Both occurred during 2017 when Djokovic was struggling with injury and motivation, ESPN reported.
Kyrgios and his then-girlfriend, Chiara Passari, reportedly had to be separated by police after getting into a verbal argument at an Australian quarantine hotel after they returned to the country in October.
Photos: Novak Djokovic defeats Nick Kyrgios to win Wimbledon 2022 final Serbia's Novak Djokovic kisses the trophy as he celebrates after beating Australia's Nick Kyrgios to win the final of the men's singles on Day 14 of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Photos: Novak Djokovic defeats Nick Kyrgios to win Wimbledon 2022 final Serbia's Novak Djokovic, right, holds the winners trophy as he celebrates after beating Australia's Nick Kyrgios, left, to win the final of the men's singles on Day 14 of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Photos: Novak Djokovic defeats Nick Kyrgios to win Wimbledon 2022 final Britain's Kate, Duchess of Cambridge presents the trophy to Serbia's Novak Djokovic after he beat Australia's Nick Kyrgios in the final of the men's singles on Day 14 of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Photos: Novak Djokovic defeats Nick Kyrgios to win Wimbledon 2022 final Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates beating Australia's Nick Kyrgios in the final of the men's singles on Day 14 of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Photos: Novak Djokovic defeats Nick Kyrgios to win Wimbledon 2022 final Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates after beating Australia's Nick Kyrgios to win the final of the men's singles on Day 14 of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Photos: Novak Djokovic defeats Nick Kyrgios to win Wimbledon 2022 final Australia's Nick Kyrgios returns the ball from between his legs to Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the final of the men's singles on Day 14 of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Photos: Novak Djokovic defeats Nick Kyrgios to win Wimbledon 2022 final Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns to Australia's Nick Kyrgios in the final of the men's singles on Day 14 of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Photos: Novak Djokovic defeats Nick Kyrgios to win Wimbledon 2022 final Australia's Nick Kyrgios returns to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the final of the men's singles on Day 14 of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Photos: Novak Djokovic defeats Nick Kyrgios to win Wimbledon 2022 final Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns to Australia's Nick Kyrgios during the final of the men's singles on Day 14 of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Photos: Novak Djokovic defeats Nick Kyrgios to win Wimbledon 2022 final Australia's Nick Kyrgios returns to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the final of the men's singles on Day 14 of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Photos: Novak Djokovic defeats Nick Kyrgios to win Wimbledon 2022 final Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns to Australia's Nick Kyrgios during the final of the men's singles on Day 14 of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Photos: Novak Djokovic defeats Nick Kyrgios to win Wimbledon 2022 final Australia's Nick Kyrgios shouts during the final of the men's singles against Serbia's Novak Djokovic on Day 14 of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Photos: Novak Djokovic defeats Nick Kyrgios to win Wimbledon 2022 final Australia's Nick Kyrgios, right, and Serbia's Novak Djokovic pose for a photo at the net before the final of the men's singles on Day 14 of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years Here are some memorable photos of tennis star Novak Djokovic through the years. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2004: Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Montenegro in action against Dannis Van Scheppinggen of the Netherlands during the first round of the ATP Thailand Open at the Inpact Arena on September 28, 2004, in Bangkok, Thailand. (Ian Walton/Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2005: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates beating Gael Monfils of France during the first round of the US Open at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on August 30, 2005, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Djokovic won 7-5, 4-6, 7-6, 0-6, 7-5. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2006: Andy Murray of Great Britain and Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Montenegro celebrate a point in their doubles match against Fabrice Santoro of France and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia and Montenegro during Day 4 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park January 19, 2006, in Melbourne, Australia. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2007: Tennis pro Novak Djokovic poses for a portrait shoot on April 15, 2007, in Monte Carlo, Monaco. (Clive Brunskill/Exclusive by Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2008: Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with his trophy following his victory at the Men's Singles at the Australian Open 2008 on January 28, 2008, in Melbourne, Australia. (Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2009: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates with the trophy after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in the final during Day 7 of the Davidoff Swiss Indoors Tennis at St. Jakobshalle on November 8, 2009, in Basel, Switzerland. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2010: Rafael Nadal of Spain (right) poses with the championship trophy alongside runner up Novak Djokovic of Serbia (left) after their men's singles final on Day 15 of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2010, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2011: Novak Djokovic of Serbia kisses the trophy as he celebrates defeating Rafael Nadal of Spain during the Men's Final on Day 15 of the 2011 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 12, 2011, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2012: Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup and the clock after winning championship point and playing in the longest grand slam final ever in his men's final match against Rafael Nadal of Spain during Day 14 of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 29, 2012, in Melbourne, Australia. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2013: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates winning against Richard Gasquet of France during their men's semifinal match of the 2013 China Open at the National Tennis Center on October 5, 2013, in Beijing, China. (Feng Li/Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2014: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates winning a game against Milos Raonic of Canada during Day 7 of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia tennis 2014 on May 17, 2014, in Rome, Italy. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2015: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates with the winner's trophy after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland during their Men's Singles Final match on Day 14 of the 2015 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2015, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Djokovic defeated Federer 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2016: Serena Williams of the USA and Novak Djokovic of Serbia pose with the trophies during the 2016 Australian Open official draw at Melbourne Park on January 15, 2016, in Melbourne, Australia. (Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2017: Novak Djokovic of Serbia stretches to hit a forehand during the men's singles third round match against Diego Schwartzman of Argentina on Day 6 of the 2017 French Open at Roland Garros on June 2, 2017, in Paris, France. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2018: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates a point duirng his men's singles third-round match against Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain during Day 6 of the 2018 French Open at Roland Garros on June 1, 2018, in Paris, France. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2019: Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup following victory in his Men's Singles Final match against Rafael Nadal of Spain during Day 14 of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2019, in Melbourne, Australia. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2020: Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a forehand during his Men's Singles third-round match against Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan on Day 5 of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2020, in Melbourne, Australia. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Photos: Novak Djokovic through the years 2021: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates winning match point in his Men's Singles third-round match against Taylor Fritz of the United States during Day 5 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 12, 2021, in Melbourne, Australia. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)