LONDON — This is it.
Novak Djokovic, the six-time champion, will take on Nick Kyrgios for the Wimbledon title.
For Djokovic, it’s a record 32nd grand slam final and a chance to close to within one of Rafael Nadal on the all-time winners’ list, with his 21st major. For world No. 40 Kyrgios, it’s a first slam final and an opportunity for him to join a long list of Australians to have won the title.
At 35, Djokovic has the experience; at 27, Kyrgios has the firepower and the benefit, in theory, of having had a couple of extra days off after Nadal pulled out before their scheduled semifinal.
Kyrgios has won both of their previous meetings, but both were in 2017, a year when Djokovic was struggling with injury and motivation. A lot has happened since then but the final, as Djokovic said, is likely to include “fireworks.”
All he does is set records. pic.twitter.com/mXvmy1dY9S
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) July 8, 2022
Why Novak Djokovic will win
Well, because he’s Djokovic, a man who has not lost on Centre Court since Andy Murray beat him in the final in 2013. Since that day, he has taken his tally of titles at Wimbledon to six and one more would put him level with Pete Sampras and just one behind Roger Federer.
That’s probably motivation enough, but Djokovic also knows that, because of his refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19, current rules in the United States and the fact that he’s banned from entering Australia, it could be nine months before he’s able to play another grand slam. He might not get many more chances.
Moreover, grass is a surface on which he excels, just as much as on hard courts. His serve has that bit more pop and his returns, always the hallmark of his game, are still as good as ever. He has won 59% of points on his opponent’s second serve, a figure that illustrates how much pressure he puts on the server.
And then there’s experience. Djokovic knows what it feels like to get ready for the final, he knows how to deal with the nerves and even though Kyrgios has a huge serve and massive ground strokes, he is better than anyone at soaking up power.
Playing for the 🏆 on Sunday pic.twitter.com/ZYshg2Nis1
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) July 7, 2022
Why Nick Kyrgios will win
Kyrgios says for all his belief in himself, he never really thought he would one day be playing in a Wimbledon final. But after scraping through his first-round match and coming through several controversial moments, he has played outstanding tennis to reach his first slam…
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