28m ago 12.40 And with that, Novak Djokovic, who will not be at this year’s US Open as it stands, or the Australian Open in 2023, poses with his trophy, his seventh Wimbledon title, his 21st grand slam. Soon enough he will make his way out to Henman Hill/Norrie Knoll to show it off but he is shaking hands with just about everyone. He and Kyrgios leave the field to applause and that’s it for Wimbledon 2022. Thanks from all the team for reading our tournament blogs and articles. Here’s Tumaini Carayol’s report from Centre Court. Novak Djokovic crowned Wimbledon champion after beating Nick Kyrgios Read more
37m ago 12.32 Novak Djokovic speaks to Sue Barker. Nick, you’ll be back. Not just in Wimbledon but in many finals. You showed why you are one of the best players in the world. Congrats to you and your team. I wish you all the best, man. I really think you are an amazing talent. I never thought I’m going to say so many nice things about you, considering the relationship! OK, it’s officially a bromance! Hopefully this is the start of a wonderful friendship. Let’s start with dinner and drinks and we will see. I lost words for what this trophy means. It has always been and always will be the most special tournament. Realising a childhood dream in winning this trophy. Every year it gets more meaningful, I am really blessed. The most special court in the world. I am extremely happy and grateful to be here. Djokovic speaks to Sue Barker. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Updated at 13.02 EDT
45m ago 12.24 Here comes Big Nick, who speaks to Sue Barker. Yeah he is a bit of a god, I’m not going to lie. I thought I played well. First of all congratulations to Novak and your team, you’ve won this Championships that many times I don’t even know any more. Obviously to all the ball kids, the umpires, I know we have a tough relationship at times so thanks for putting up with it. And [thanks] to the crowd, it has been an amazing couple of weeks for me personally. Absolutely not! I’m so tired honestly. Myself, my team, we’re all exhausted. We’ve played so much tennis. I’m really happy with this result and maybe one day I’ll be here again but I don’t know about that.
Updated at 12.31 EDT
49m ago 12.20 Nick Kyrgios makes his way to meet the Duchess, looking a bit sheepish after all that to-do, before Djokovic receives the trophy and holds it aloft.
1h ago 12.12 Djokovic wins his seventh Wimbledon title, beating Kyrgios 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 Kyrgios throws first, and is called a double fault on his serve. 1-0 to Djokovic. Kyrgios’s men tell him to concentrate on the game and not them. Sound advice. Djokovic works a serve and volley for 2-0, as Kyrgios screams away. But then an error from Djokovic lets Kyrgios back in for 2-1, only for him to crack too long after he gets excitable after a lengthy rally. Then Kyrgios goes long once more 4-1. He blames his box again. He then tries a winner down the line, and can only hit the top of the net. It’s 5-1. Djokovic has another serve, and after a long rally, the inevitable, Kyrgios hits the ball out. 6-1, five championship points. Two serves narrow the advantage, and then, off a long rally, Djokovic forces the error. He’s done it, the 21st grand slam is his. Djokovic celebrates winning the Final. Photograph: The Guardian Djokovic continues his usual ritual of eating some grass. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Updated at 13.09 EDT
1h ago 12.03 *Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-6 Kyrgios At 0-15, the Kyrgios klub think their man may have a chance. But then comes an outburst at 15-15. Djokovic sends him the wrong way with a disguised forehand for 30-15. But then, it’s 30-30, two points from 2-2 in sets. And, on second serve, Djokovic, having taken a Nadal-esque length of time over the ball toss, skids home one that can’t be returned. And a tie-break ensues, as he serves out.
1h ago 11.59 Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 5-6 Kyrgios* Kyrgios speeding up play, as he does at his best. But ends up at 15-15 when a return forces a volleying error. Still, some serve and volley gets him to 30-15, an overhead piling home. And then, just as Djokovic looked to have the court begging, he charges on and misses the target. 40-15, then on second serve, Kyrgios misses a winner, and doesn’t challenge the call. The ball was in, and he was unaware. No matter, a big serve wipes that away. It gives him chance to have a dig at the ump as they take a seat. “You’re hesitant” is one of his more polite gambits to an official.
1h ago 11.53 *Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 5-5 Kyrgios Djokovic begins with a double fault. Hello? A baseline backhand cannot be returned by Kyrgios, who has only got points off Djokovic via double faults in this set. The pattern continues, when Kyrgios cannot lift the ball from his toes and nets for 40-15. But here it comes, at last, a winning return. Not that it mattered, Djokovic cranks out an ace. The BBC’s coverage is included a bonus addition of Clare Balding chatting to her producers, at the same time as Andrew Castle holds forth. Bring back Dan Maskell.
1h ago 11.48 Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 4-5 Kyrgios* The pressure is on Kyrgios, but here’s the 27th ace. At 30-0 up, Djokovic makes an unbelievable save, grounding himself and Kyrgios’ shoulders slump when it goes to 30-30. Still, here’s ace No 28. And No 29. Now, can he break Djokovic?
1h ago 11.44 *Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 4-4 Kyrgios Groans as Kyrgios can’t lift a backhand return over the net, and it’s 30-0. And soon enough, another game served to love. Kyrgios’ first-set break now a distant memory. John McEnerney is in Cruise control: “Only a Few Good Men can beat ND & Nick is one of The Outsiders sometimes you need to play with your Eyes Wide Shut but it looks like Mission Impossible for Nick.” Kyrgios remondstrates. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Updated at 12.20 EDT
1h ago 11.40 Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 3-4 Kyrgios* “Let’s go,” says Kyrgios as Djokovic makes a mistake to offer up a 30-15 lead. Djok looks annoyed with that one, too. Then there’s smiles in the Kyrgios box when he executes a lovely drop shot. But here comes rage from their man as a let is called on what would have been an ace. “Let’s go,” he says again, when he wallops a serve home.
Updated at 12.17 EDT
2h ago 11.34 Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 2-3 Kyrgios* Some big serving and more muttering, and another tennis rabona, and it’s 40-15, and then 40-30, and Kyrgios starts to wobble again, only this time to crash home when Djokovic can only lay him up for a serve. Abhijato gets in touch: “As much as Djokovic gets a bad rep for losing his cool sometimes, he almost always keeps it when it truly matters. That’s probably the difference between a temperamental talent and a world-beating champion. Sad way for Kyrgios to blow perhaps his best shot at a Grand Slam title, if he keeps distracting himself with his own colourful obscenities and rageful taunts.” Richard Chandler: “I’m struggling to recall another Wimbledon final where I’ve been rooting for both players to somehow lose. I’m praying for a suitably undignified finale e.g. a Kyrgios handbags episode resulting in the umpire - or his own box - finally delivering a well deserved kick to his goolies / Djokovic getting a catastrophic, match-ending bout of Omicron tummy requiring a resignation from the bowels of the Wimbledon bogs.”
2h ago 11.29 *Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 2-2 Kyrgios A double fault from Djokovic sets off a ripple of expectation, but soon enough it’s 15-15, the rally, going his way, as they now tend to do. An ace takes it to 40-15, and then another baseline fail from Kyrgios levels the set.
2h ago 11.26 Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 1-2 Kyrgios* The falling leaf drop shot catches Kyrgios out once more for 0-15. Then comes a Big Nick ace, and some serve and volley classicism. Tom Cruise is watching, no doubt admiring the Top Gun serve and the Australian’s Days Of Thunder, though it’s a Risky Business backing him when Djokovic is Far And Away making All The Right Moves. It’s making for a heady Cocktail. Djokovic cuts a slice. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Updated at 12.19 EDT
2h ago 11.23 *Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 1-1 Kyrgios A long rally at 30-0 where Djokovic prevails suggests the direction of travel remains. He eventually holds to love, backhanding down the line to confirm that.
2h ago 11.20 Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 0-1 Kyrgios* Djokovic leaves the court to freshen up, while Kyrgios curdles in his seat, muttering away. He’s on the ropes now. There’s a lengthy delay. Can Kyrgios regroup or did that extend his anxiety? Let’s see. His serve will be indicative. He starts talking about being 40-up and being let down again. Will these people speak to him later? 40-0 arrives, via a crunching forehand, but Djokovic reading a drop shot clambers up to loop a winner home. Kyrgios sees it out this time, one of those low stop-backhands giving Djok nothing to work with.
2h ago 11.11 Djokovic wins the third set 6-4 and leads 2-1 “Why do you stop at 40-0?” says Big Nick, smashing his racket into the floor. “Say something,” he says to his people, who aren’t actually allowed to say anything. It’s someone else’s fault that he coughed up three break points and lost his serve from 40-0. Djokovic keeps his cool, a Kyrgios shank putting him 30-0 up. F-words aplenty, naughty Nick, but he does unleash a bomb that Djokovic cannot return for 30-15. The same goes for 30-30, as Djok watches a missile fly by. Set point arrives when the rim of his racket spins the ball out of play, and then comes a missed return down the line. There is sarcastic applause from Kyrgios for his box. All their fault, clearly.
Kyrgios reacts after losing the third set. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Updated at 11.35 EDT
2h ago 11.05 Djokovic 4-6 6-3 5-4 Kyrgios* A 21st ace for Kyrgios, then a 22nd, then comes another, challenged by Djokovic, and lost, and his players’ box gets some grief now. But then two points come his way, and Kyrgios can only net for 40-30. And a winner, whipped down the line, after a short rally, takes it to deuce, and then a break point, and one that’s coughed up, and Djokovic wiull serve for the second set.
2h ago 11.00 *Djokovic 4-6 6-3 4-4 Kyrgios Djokovic holds to love, nice and easy for him. Gerry Thorn emails in: “...when a player challenges, is persuaded not to by the Umpire, and the commentators then report that the ball was in? That was Jabeur in yesterday’s women’s singles finals. And how come the media have access to all the Hawkeye calls and the Umpire doesn’t? Not an issue when most of the line calls are good, but there have been far too many bad calls this year. Commentators also reported that two serves by the losing pair in one of the doubles games were called out, when both were apparently in. Not good enough!!” So does Chris Healy: “This is a gripping final. But I’m curious why Kyrgios’s white cap slowly turns green over the course of a match. It was the same in previous rounds. Odd. I’ll stick my neck put and say Djokovic will win this. He keeps his head while others around him are losing theirs.” Mike Jelley: “There’s a lot of chat on the Beeb about Krygios being entertaining and authentic with his overt emotionality. Am I the only one to find it boring, disrespectful and tedious? If his personality was 10% the equal of his talent, he could have been one of the greats. As it is, he’ll go down as a circus footnote on tennis history.”
2h ago 10.57 Djokovic 4-6 6-3 3-4 Kyrgios* A double fault for 15-15, and then Kyrgios is beaten by a big winner from Djokovic. Some rude words come out. Big Nick is gabbling on, and challenges a call, winning a point for 30-30. A huge serve sends Djokovic falling, and Kyrgios is ranting and raving. Prince George looks on, looking at the nasty man saying rude words but holding his serve nonetheless. Kyrgios remonstrates much to George and Kate’s amusement. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Updated at 11.12 EDT
2h ago 10.53 *Djokovic 4-6 6-3 3-3 Kyrgios Djokovic will not be getting distracted by Kyrgios. He ain’t no Tsitsipas, bro. Kyrgios is he losing his cool, and it’s 40-0 soon enough. And game, with another of those gentle drop shots. Kyrgios turns away as if in disgust.
2h ago 10.50 Djokovic 4-6 6-3 2-3 Kyrgios* With the tennis rabona, Kyrgios somehow wins a point, Djokovic missing a volley. He almost does it again, Kyrgios missing a forehand that can’t make it over the net. But a forehand cruncher hands him game point. Kyrgios is still playing well, picking his shots well but here comes disquiet. Another double fault, an untimely one, and it’s deuce. He gets a code violation for complaining about noises off. He’s done worse and got away with it. “I am being distracted in a Wimbledon final, she’s drunk out of her mind, she’s the one who looks like she’s had about 700 drinks, bro,” he tells the ump, having held his serve. Is this the blowup? Kyrgios remonstrates much to Kate Middleton’s amusement. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Updated at 11.10 EDT
2h ago 10.43 *Djokovic 4-6 6-3 2-2 Kyrgios A delay in play? Some kind of protest seems to be taking place in the stand. It doesn’t last long, and Kyrgios begins the game with a winning volley before a Djokovic ace. Kyrgios challenges a call down the baseline and is inches off being right. Soon enough, it’s 40-15, with a whipped backhand, and game with a big serve unable to be returned.
3h ago 10.38 Djokovic 4-6 6-3 1-2 Kyrgios* The drop shot is damaging Kyrgios, but he levels at 15-15 when the court’s bounce catches out Djokovic. Then Kyrgios produces his first double fault of the match, and doesn’t challenge when the ball looks in. Is he becoming distracted? He has no answer to a passing shot that means deuce. The shouting at his box resumes, but then a massive second serve and a huge ace see him out.
3h ago 10.33 *Djokovic 4-6 6-3 1-1 Kyrgios Djokovic’s turn to make some noise as he top-spins a baseliner to level at 15-15, then comes an ace that crashes into a spot near the boom mic for a satisfying sound. But then some self-admonishment as he nets a backhand. A battle of chip and charge is won by Krygios shovelling his attempt out of bounds, and Djokovic serves out. He’s getting by far the better of the rallies now.
3h ago 10.28 Djokovic 4-6 6-3 0-1 Kyrgios* Krygios wobbling? At 15-30, it looks possible but then comes a huge serve, and then he loses the run of a rally, and can only miss when sent scrambling by a drop shot. Break point at 30-40, but that’s saved by backhand stop volley. Then comes Djokovic, his eye now in, cranking a winner for another break. This one is saved, by a volley that only Kyrgios could deliver, scooped just over the net by those long arms. “C’mon,” says Big Nick as he aces himself to safety.
3h ago 10.21 Djokovic takes the second set 6-3 to level at 1-1 Kyrgios makes it to 0-30 by galloping to chase down a scooped volley. The best play and the loudest roar of the match so far. Then, when Djokovic misreads a forehand, three break points come into play. The first is saved as Krygios starts talking to himself again, or whoever will listen. Then he barks at his coaches and friends in the box as an ace sails by. Then, they get another volley as he misses a backhand return and it’s back at deuce. Another break point as Djokovic misses the baseline and loses a challenge. But an amazing save from Djokovic, a spinning, swirling drop shot, that bounces lower than a snake’s belly. A fourth break point saved. Then a chopping backhand forces game point and a Krygios tantrum. “Say something,” he bellows, but Djokovic drills in a serve that cannot be returned. “0-40,” wails Kyrgios, who seems not to realise it was him that squandered his chance.
Djokovic gestures as he wins the second set. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Updated at 11.08 EDT
3h ago 10.13 Djokovic 4-6 5-3 Kyrgios* Kyrgios is taking it quite slow compared to the Olympic pistol-shooting pace of previous rounds. And it doesn’t seem to work for him; Djokovic tempts him into missing a backhand for 30-30. The serve deals Kyrgios out of danger for 40-30 and then to a hold. Now he must find his way back on the Djok serve.