The Paper's contributing writer Carmen
On the 10th, the British club was full of celebrities.
Showbiz stars including Tom Cruise, Jason Statham, Andrew Garfield, Tom Siderston, Kate Winslett, as well as the Dukes of Cambridge and their son Prince George, have all appeared at Centre Court to watch the highlight of 2022 Wimbledon, the men's singles final.
After a four-set battle, the top seed and defending champion Djokovic defeated Kyrgios 3-1 after a set behind, lifting the golden "Challenger Cup" for the 7th time in his career, while also raising his total number of Grand Slam titles to 21.
That's one less than Nadal and one more than Federer — the "Big Three" continues to form a tight series of equal differences, while the scramble for the "GOAT (best ever)" position continues.
Djokovic held aloft the Wimbledon trophy.
Waiting for an opportunity in the "ACE rain"
The 15,000-seat centre court was filled with spectators, and people wanted to see tennis, and a little bit of something other than tennis.
Prior to this Grand Slam men's singles final, Djokovic had already lost to Kyrgios in two consecutive times in 2017, both 0-2. This is also the "capital" that the latter often refers to, especially when he provokes the other party on social media.
However, in Djokovic's "vaccine and visa storm" in Australia earlier this year, Kyrgios was rarely on the side of the Serbs.
"The way we (the people involved) handled this was terrible, really bad. He's a great champion and a man, so let's do a little better. Imagine how he feels, he can get support from me! ”
Six months later, they met at Centre Court at the All England Club to compete for this season's Wimbledon men's singles title.
Kyrgios and Deyo had good personal trainers.
"@djokernole are we friends now?" The war was imminent, and the Australian, who had never played his cards according to common sense, was once again using his social media in a friendly gesture.
Soon, the number one seed responded: "If you invite me to have a drink or have dinner, I accept." PS, the one who wins tomorrow pays. ”
However, when the real game started, they all temporarily left this "date" behind.
In the first set, the 27-year-old Kyrgios showed a focus that was rare in his entire career. He can have ACE appear on the second shot, and soon after the opening, he sneaks up on the opponent with a hand serve, and there is a crotch shot and other magic strokes.
After taking the lead, he won the first set 6-4 and won the fifth set against Djokovic in a row.
The 35-year-old Serb, though, didn't panic.
Whether it's a grand slam final or a stadium for All England clubs, he's all too familiar with it. He was just waiting, raising his body heat and feel in the wait.
In NBC's words, "Djokovic has never been afraid of 'deficits' in a game, whether it's a set, a set or an entire game, he's the kind of guy who likes to solve problems." ”
The number one seed does solve the problem perfectly. Although his opponent's ACE is twice as high as his own, his one-shot scoring rate is as high as 83%, 13 percentage points ahead of his opponent, which is also the key to his ability to control the game in the last three sets.
In the end, he reversed 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3) and lifted the Wimbledon men's singles title for the seventh time in his career.
And what impressed the Australian throughout the game, in addition to the 30 ACEs, was his chatter and complaints in the middle of the game...
Kyrgios and the referee argued on the sidelines.
Djokovic's initial memory of tennis
Djokovic's name was once again engraved on the base of the Challenger Cup, and the trophy was then handed over to him.
"This event and this trophy mean so much to me, my team and my family that I can't find words to describe it."
The Serbian said at the award ceremony, "I have said countless times, Wimbledon will always be the most special one in my heart." It inspired and inspired a Serbian kid who was living in a small Serbian town where his parents ran a restaurant. ”
He mentioned his first memories of Wimbledon, which was his first memory of tennis.
Djokovic kisses the trophy.
"The first time Sampras won the Wimbledon men's singles title in 1992, I was about four or five years old. I asked my mom and dad if they could buy me a racket, and all my impressions of tennis came from Wimbledon and Wimbledon's grass that year. ”
"I've always dreamed of being here, playing on this pitch, and my childhood dream was to hold a cup here."
Djokovic, 35, became the 7th crown winner in Wimbledon history, tying the record for Sampras. The child who watched the "Sang God" seal the god now stands in the same place, holding up the same trophy and becoming the same legend.
For this, Kyrgios, who is opposite the mesh belt, has enough to say.
"He almost became a god, and I didn't lie at all. When you win the first set, you'll find that you still have Mount Kilimanjaro to climb. ”
It was Djokovic's seventh Wimbledon title.
The "best in history" battle continues
On July 10, 2014, Djokovic, 27, married his long-time girlfriend, Yelena. On the same day 8 years later, the 35-year-old showed her and the children in the box the Challenger Cup in his hand: "Happy Anniversary, honey, this is my gift!" ”
It was his gift to his family and a gift to himself.
After winning the final with Kyrgios, he became the first player since the Open era to win more than seven titles at both majors at the same time, including nine at the Australian Open and seven at Wimbledon.
At the same time, his Wimbledon "7 Crowns" also equaled William Renshaw and Sampras, second in the history of the tournament after Federer with 8 crowns.
Carrying a 28-game winning streak in the men's singles of Wimbledon, he achieved four consecutive Wimbledon titles (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022), ranking second in the history of the tournament after Federer's five consecutive titles (2003, 2004, 2007, 2006, 2007).
In front of Djokovic is Federer's Wimbledon eight crown record.
In the total number of career Grand Slam titles, he is only one behind the 36-year-old Nadal with 21 titles in hand, one ahead of the Swiss, who is about to celebrate his 41st birthday.
They are iconic figures in men's professional tennis and even in global sports, joining forces to push tennis from one peak to another. Although everyone has a different view of the "best in history", the three of them are like the soul musicians of a tennis band, leading more people to play the most beautiful pieces.
"Federer is like a violin, and I think everyone will choose him, and no one should doubt that." Nadal, I feel like he's the kind of being who has more energy and energy, so he should be an electric guitar or a drum kit. ”
"And I might have a little bit of everything, orchestral music, right?" No, Sax, because it fits well with every kind of music. ”
A month ago, when Djokovic was asked at the French Open how he described himself and two other top players, he gave the answer.
Indeed, while competing for "best of all time," they are always one whole.
Editor-in-Charge: Ascendas
Proofreader: Yan Zhang