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It had everything we have now come to expect from the Nick Kyrgios show.
From thundering serves to X-rated outbursts at his own box and even a customary underarm serve, the 27-year-old Australian turned entertainer once more at the All England Club.
Netflix has been following Kyrgios’ every move at Wimbledon, documenting his ride all the way to the final, which ended in a four-set defeat to Novak Djokovic on Monday morning.
But in the moments after Djokovic was crowned champion for the seventh time, the cameras captured a very different Kyrgios to the animated one we have become more familiar with.
Kyrgios had admitted in the lead-up to Monday’s match that he “never thought” he would be here, at his first grand slam final, and yet that did not make the final result any easier to take.
Sitting by himself, Kyrgios cut a pensive figure, taking in just how far he had come this part fortnight and just how close he was to becoming a “tennis immortal”, as the Australian put it.
“At times I was getting angry because I looked at it as, you win this tournament and you become a tennis immortal,” he told reporters in his post-match press conference.
“It was an opportunity that people work their entire life for.”
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It was an opportunity Kyrgios did not take for granted, knowing how hard he had worked to get to this point, knowing there was no guarantee it would come again.
Djokovic though was confident this would not be the last time we will see Kyrgios competing for a grand slam title, telling him: “Nick, you’ll be back. Not just at Wimbledon, but in finals”.
But you just never know with Kyrgios, never know whether the motivation or drive will be there to take him back to heights that have always been in reach given his immense talent.
Well, Kyrgios himself said if he had won on Monday morning, the motivation may have no longer been there.
“I feel like if I would have won today I would have struggled with motivation,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve been told my entire life, winning Wimbledon is the ultimate achievement. It has almost taken me 10 years to finally get to the point where I’m playing for a Grand Slam. “So, I feel like if I had won I would have lacked a little bit of motivation, to be honest. I kind of [would have] achieved the greatest pinnacle of what you can achieve in tennis.”
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That pinnacle is closer than it has ever been for Kyrgios, who said he is “right there” in the hunt for his first grand slam title, not deterred by Monday’s loss against Djokovic.
“I felt like I belonged,” he said of walking out onto Centre Court.
“My game and level has always been there, I just feel like I’ve kind of put it all together these couple of weeks.”
And the vision of a dejected Kyrgios sitting by himself was proof enough for Australian tennis great Jelena Dokic that this is not the last we have seen of the Australian in a grand slam final.
“He looked really disappointed there at the end,” Dokic said on Channel Nine.
“In a way I have got to say, I like that he was disappointed. Because it means that he is hungry, he really wanted it and I think when he looks back on these two weeks he will be very proud of himself.
“For me, that Australian Open doubles titles with Thanasi, that was a turning point and I think this could be another one.
“After his quarterfinal, [he said] ‘I didn’t think I would make a semi. I never thought I would be in a final’… I hope, like you said, that belief really kicks in. I think it really kicked in after the Australian Open when they won the doubles title.”
Former Australian tennis player Sam Groth said it could go “one of two ways” for Kyrgios after his Wimbledon heartbreak.
Like Jokic, he too believes this experience could be just what Kyrgios needed to understand just how far his talents can take him on the global stage.
“He hasn’t been this far in a tournament,” Groth said.
“The emotional rollercoaster that comes with that and all the extra pieces that come with making a Grand Slam final, he has now experienced that.
“I hope this drives him to work harder to be better and to want to be back. There were some kind words from Novak in that presentation to say: ‘I believe you won’t just be back at Wimbledon, you will be back in the finals again’.
“I think for Nick, it is hopefully that taste of what he needs. I hope now that he has been there, he understands how big that is.”
Kyrgios though said he did not need to make a Wimbledon final to know that nor did he believe this experience would spark some seismic shift in his career.
“I don’t feel like it re-lights a fire or anything like that, I know I’ve been able to beat these players before,” he said.
“There were just other things I couldn’t figure out along the way. I feel like my fire has been lit this whole year.
“I’ve obviously met a lot of amazing people this year that have given me extra motivation. To find people that finally have my back, I just like being around [them], they push me to be a better person and to be a better tennis player.
“They realise I’m immensely talented and I feel like I have a lot more to do.”
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