By Tony Fairbairn at Wimbledon
- Novak Djokovic admitted nerves after defeating Cameron Norrie in four sets to reach the Wimbledon final
- Nick Kyrgios admitted he was disappointed not to be playing Rafael Nadal as he looks forward to a first Grand Slam final.
- Alfie Hewitt produced a remarkable comeback to beat Gustavo Fernandez to reach the wheelchair singles final
LONDON, ENGLAND – Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios looked ahead to their Wimbledon final showdown while Alfie Hewett produced a stunning comeback to reach the Wheelchair singles final.
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Djokovic admits nerves after four set semi-final triumph
Our day twelve talking points start with Novak Djokovic who overcame a poor start to defeat Cameron Norrie in four sets. The defending champion reached his ninth Wimbledon final in front of a rowdy Centre Court crowd as Djokovic gradually improved his level in what was a comfortable victory in the end.
After the match Djokovic admitted there was nerves as he looks forward to another Wimbledon final where he will look to win the title for a fourth year in a row:
“Obviously it’s always a goal to get to the championship match. For me at least, every tournament I play on, particularly Grand Slams. Of course, I’m very satisfied and pleased that I am putting myself in a position to win the trophy,” Djokovic said.
“Good match today. Didn’t start off well as I did in most of my matches here in Wimbledon. Didn’t feel so good at the beginning. A lot of mistakes. Just didn’t find my rhythm. Nerves were kicking in for both of us. He handled them better and was a better player for a set and a half.
“One poor game from his side 4-3 second set, the match turned around. I think the momentum shifted. I started feeling better, serving better, just getting him to move around the court, making him work. Solid, solid three sets after that. I know I always expect from myself that I can play better than I did. But I have to be pleased with this win.”
It was another test passed for Djokovic who hasn’t always played vintage tennis this week but nevertheless has produced the results required. Next for Djokovic is Nick Kyrgios who he has never won a set against in their previous two meetings. The Serb told the press about Kyrgios’ serve after the match and said the match will be decided by small margins:
“I mean, his motion for the serve is so fluid and just very quick,” Djokovic said.
“He can hit any angle really. He tosses it forward so he can come in, serve and volley. He puts himself in a great position to be aggressive or to stay back. But he’s always one meter in front of the baseline. Yeah, it’s tough to read his serve. I haven’t practiced with him or played with him since the last time I lost to him in, what was it, ’17 I think.
“On grass I would assume it’s even tougher to read his serve and to return because he has so many free points. You could see that throughout this tournament, as well. He just puts additional pressure on your serve. He moves well. He’s got great hands. So very complete player.
“I guess it’s going to be a game of small margins. I hope I can be at the desired level, then really it’s a mental game in the end, who stays tougher and calmer in the decisive moments.”
Djokovic will hope his experience and mental strength will pull him through the match as he aims for an seventh Wimbledon title and a 21st Grand Slam title.
Kyrgios admits disappointment about not facing Nadal
Meanwhile for Kyrgios there was no semi-final for him after Rafael Nadal’s late night withdrawal on Thursday evening. The Australian told the press today that he was disappointed to not be playing Nadal in the last four:
“Honestly my first feeling was a bit of disappointment,” Kyrgios admitted in his press conference on Friday.
“My energy was so focused on playing him and tactically how I’m going to go out there and play, the emotions of walking out there, all that type of stuff. But, you know, it wouldn’t have been easy for him to do that. I’m sure that a lot of his team members and himself, there would be a part of him that wanted to play, for sure. He barely lost a match this year. He wanted to probably go for all four. So it wouldn’t be easy.
“Obviously you never want to see someone like that, so important to the sport, go down with an injury like that. He’s just played so much tennis. He’s had a gruelling season. I just hope he recovers. I’m sure I’ll play him again on a big stage.”
Despite Kyrgios and Nadal’s difference in approach and opinions in the past, it’s nice to see Kyrgios recognise the Spaniard as the competitor he is. However the Australian is into his first Grand Slam singles final and it’s safe to say Kyrgios is already feeling the nerves and excitement ahead of his clash with Djokovic:
“Obviously at a Grand Slam you want to have those matches. I think in a way, exactly right what you said, the competitive juices, you want to have those going, the adrenaline. That’s just something that I’m going to have to go into the final without that semi-final kind of experience,” Kyrgios said on having extra time off.
“But that’s okay. I’m going to take every positive. I get to rest my body a little bit. It’s not bad going in there feeling fresh. I had a shocking sleep last night, though, to be honest. I probably got an hour’s sleep just with everything, like the excitement. I had so much anxiety, I was already feeling so nervous, and I don’t feel nervous usually.
“I just know there’s a lot of people that want me to do well and give my best. But I had a shocking sleep last night. Hopefully I can get some sleep tonight. That’s all I was thinking about. I was thinking just playing, obviously imagining myself winning, imagining myself losing, everything.
“I feel like I’m just a reckless ball of energy right now. I just want to go out on the practice court now and hit some tennis balls and just talk. I don’t know. I want it to come already. Yeah, I want the final to come already. I know that I have to kind of just calm down. There’s still a couple days until that moment. Hopefully tonight I’ll get a better rest, chamomile tea and a better rest.”
Although Kyrgios competed in a doubles Grand Slam final with Thanasi Kokkinakis earlier in the year, this will be an entirely new experience for the Australian as he will look to seize an opportunity of a lifetime. Should Kyrgios win the singles title on Sunday he will be the first Australian champion since Lleyton Hewitt in 2002.
Hewett produces stunning comeback
Finally there is positive news for British tennis fans as Alfie Hewett reached the wheelchair singles final beating Gustavo Fernandez in three sets. The Brit wanted to be on a show court after his clash with Gordon Reid was on Court 14 on Thursday. Well as a result of Nadal’s withdrawal Hewett got his wish as he took to Court One for his semi-final match.
However it was a poor start from the Brit who couldn’t match the Argentinian’s baseline power as he found himself 6-2 5-1 down. As the heat became too much to deal with it looked like Hewett was facing a disappointing exit but the Brit never gives up and he produced some sublime tennis to turn the match around to win 2-6 7-6(3) 6-4 to reach the final.
After the match Hewett thanked the crowd in attendance as he aims to spread the popularity of wheelchair tennis:
“I’ve never experienced anything like this before so thank you everyone,” the Brit was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
“We’ve been desperate to showcase our sport in front of a bigger crowd, and I think we showed a pretty good level today.”
A remarkable effort which sees him in the final to play top seed Shingo Kuneida who has won 27 Grand Slam singles titles and will be motivated to beat Hewett with Wimbledon the only Grand Slam missing from his collection.
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