The Djoker has had the last laugh over tennis’ ultimate joker.
That’s right, Novak Djokovic has ended Australia’s hopes of having their first men’s Wimbledon champion in two decades as the Serbian beat Nick Kyrgios in four sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
The victory saw Djokovic close to within one of Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 grand slams.
By winning, he ensured “Wimbledon’s worst nightmare” Kyrgios won’t have his name engraved on its honour board. Not yet anyway.
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It was only a week ago Roger Federer was the guest of honour at the Centre Court’s centenary celebrations. The Swiss Express is everything Wimbledon stands for.
Kyrgios, the game’s most divisive figure, is not.
The 27-year-old walked onto Centre Court last week wearing red Jordans. He left it wearing his bright red cap.
The Australian said he was “not above the rules” following his fourth round victory, but he is the game’s biggest rule breaker.
It didn’t matter that Prince George was sitting between his royal parents William and Catherine, Kyrgios wasn’t about to rein in his language.
He even wore his red Nike cap during the presentation ceremony as he lifted his runners-up trophy.
A burning desire to go one step further next year?
“Absolutely not. I’m so tired, honestly,” Kyrgios said.
“Myself, my team, I think we’re all exhausted, we played so much tennis. I definitely need a well earned vacation after this one.
“I’m just really happy with this result, it’s probably the best of my career and maybe one day I will be here again, but I don’t know about that.”
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Djokovic, whose relationship hasn’t always been rosy with the Australian, lavished Kyrgios in praise and said he was pleased to see his rival realise his potential.
“Nick, you’ll be back. Not just at Wimbledon, but in finals,” he said on Centre Court.
“It’s tough to find consolation words after a tough loss like this, but you showed why you deserve to be one of the best players in the world, particularly on this surface. Congrats to you and your team for an amazing tournament.
“I wish you all the best. I really respect you a lot. I think you’re a phenomenal tennis player and athlete and an amazing talent — you’ve been hearing that for many years but now everything is starting to come together, so I’m sure we’re going to see more of you at the later stages of a grand slam.
“And I never thought I was going to say so many nice things about you considering the relationship. OK, it’s officially a bromance.”
Early the maverick was restrained. Of course he was, he claimed the first 6-4 after breaking in the fifth game as his sublime tennis matched the hot conditions at the All England Club.
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But as the unforced errors crept up and the second serve winning percentage dropped, Kyrgios couldn’t control himself.
He turned on his box, next on the chair umpire Renaud Lichtenstein and finally on the lady “drunk out of her mind” after downing “700 drinks”.
All the while his rival at the other end, a man who Kyrgios described as a “bonehead” and someone with a “sick obsession to be liked”, was at his stone-cold, ruthless best as he chased history.
A “bromance” may have developed between the two in recent months after Kyrgios came to Djokovic’s defence following his Australian Open drama, but the Serbian had only one thing on his mind: victory.
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Kyrgios, meanwhile, was left to “self-destruct” as Todd Woodbridge said as the Australian lost the second set 6-3 and then dropped the third after being right in the contest at 4-4.
“It’s hard to watch from my perspective because he’s self-destructing,” Australian great Todd Woodbridge said in commentary on Nine.
“You’re a set-all, four-all, in a Wimbledon final and he’s disengaged mentally and left the court.
British great Tim Henman added: “That’s a reflection of dealing with adversity.”
Kyrgios rallied at the start of the fourth. He even sent the match into a fourth set tie-breaker.
But after missing by a whisker on a huge second serve in the opening point he blew up again and was told to concentrate on the next point by his camp.
He got one back when Djokovic had an uncharacteristic miss, but champions seldom miss again and again.
Djokovic didn’t need another invitation, as he won his seventh Wimbledon and 21st grand slam.
It was his 28th straight victory at Wimbledon — a winning run that dates back to 2017 and 2013 on Centre Court.
