Novak Djokovic already got a little taste of the “fireworks” of emotions he expected in the Wimbledon final.
When the interviewer on Center Court mentioned the name of his next opponent, Nick Kyrgios, after the Serb reached his fourth straight final, the spectators murmured loudly, some cheered.
“The job is not done yet,” emphasized Djokovic. “He’s a player for big games. If you look at his career, he’s always played his best tennis against the top guys. That’s why we all respect him. It’s going to be an interesting match.”
Djokovic is aiming for a seventh Wimbledon title
For the Serb it is already his 32nd final in a Grand Slam tournament on Sunday, more than his opponents Roger Federer (31) and Rafael Nadal (30) have played. Kyrgios, on the other hand, makes his final debut on the big tennis stage in the 30th attempt.
“The experience at this level, playing a final against someone who has never been in a Grand Slam final, could easily speak for me,” said Djokovic, who is aiming for his seventh Wimbledon title. “But at the same time I know who he is, how he approaches tennis, what his attitude is on the court. It doesn’t seem like he’s under a lot of pressure.” Djokovic lost the previous two duels without winning a set himself.
Even if the controversial Kyrgios was in the headlines at the beginning of this tournament more with referee abuse than his sporting achievements, the 27-year-old has since stabilized. The Australian has dominated his recent games with the dangerous serve without ever losing his rhythm. “There were definitely times when I hated my sport, but there are also times when I think I’m one of the most competitive people I’ve ever met,” he said of himself ahead of the final.