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July 16, 2018 08:12:08
Novak Djokovic acknowledged that he was worried. His trainer was too.
Could Djokovic return to the top of tennis? At the heights he had already reached? Could he set aside the time lost to a painful right elbow that required surgery and disappointment with mediocre results for him? Could it end a drought of the Grand Slam that lasted more than two years?
All this fretting seemed misplaced last night.
Back at his best, Djokovic became Wimbledon champion for the fourth time. Tired Kevin Anderson in the final and delaying a late challenge to win 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3).
"There were several times when I was frustrated and wondering if I could go back to the desired level or not, but that makes this trip even more special for me." Djokovic said: "It's easy to talk now and look back and be grateful, but I'm really grateful to go through that kind of emotions, turbulence as well, mentally, moments "
This is the 13th major trophy of Djokovic, the fourth highest total in the history of men's tennis, behind only 20 of Roger Federer, 17 of Rafael Nadal and 14 of his idol d & # Childhood Pete Sampras [19659003] But it is also Djokovic's first since he ended a career in Grand Slam at the 2016 French Open.
"It was a long time trip, "said the 31-year-old Serbian." I could not choose a better place, to be honest, in the world of tennis to reach a peak and make a comeback. "
A year ago at All England Club, Djokovic gave up his quarterfinal because of the bend., Then took the rest of 2017.
After the opera In February, Djokovic's results were mediocre. He realized later that he was trying to come back too early.
"I was really impatient," he says now.
In April, he found Marian Vajda, the man who had coached Djokovic for years before Boris Becker and Andre Agbadi did it
"I've always had doubts," says Vajda.
"I thought really negative."
They built "the new Novak", as Vajda explained it.
Re-equipped his service.
Yet, Djokovic was so disheartened by his surprise defeat at Roland Garros last month that he promised, in the heat of the moment, to skip the grbad circuit.
Because he fell from the top 20 for the first time in more than a decade, the number 21 Djokovic is the lowest Wimbledon title since Goran Ivanisevic in 2001.
On Sunday Under a pale blue sky interrupted only by rare puffs of white clouds, Djokovic looked much more like a guy who was number one.
Anderson hits the wall after an epic semifinal
"The first two sets," said Anderson, who was playing university tennis at the University of Illinois, "Novak has been beaten on me badly enough.
Anderson could be excused for exhaustion. His semifinal was the second longest Grand Slam match in history, having lasted more than six and a half hours until he overtook John Isner 26-24 in the fifth set.
13/09, champion Federer, eight-time champion in the quarterfinals.
Anderson also blamed the nerves.
It was after all the 22nd Grand Slam final for Djokovic, and the second for Anderson, the He was vice-champion of the US Open last year and aims to become the first South African to win Wimbledon.
It was so out of the question that Djokovic had eight of the first 10 games. although he only mentioned two winners. No need for more, because Anderson offered him 15 unforced errors in this period.
"I did not really get fit as I wanted to," said Anderson, whose right elbow was mbadaged by a coach after the first set.
"Of course, my body did not feel well."
It was so unbalanced during the first hour that the onlookers began looking for Anderson, probably hoping to get more tennis for their tickets,
from a way or another, Anderson increased his playing time and almost managed to extend the match five times to a point of a fourth set.
Djokovic remained steady on everyone, then was as superior in the tiebreak as most of the afternoon.
"You can certainly see the improvements that he has made since his return" In the end, Djokovic's new service had saved all seven points of rupture that he faced. His long shots were a big reason why he made only 13 unforced errors, while Anderson was 32.
When Anderson put a forehand into the net to stop it, Djokovic exhaled. After shaking hands, Djokovic completes his personal ritual of bending down to catch two strands of grbad and putting them in his mouth, savoring the triumph.
He did the same after his Wimbledon titles in 2011, 2014 and 2015. The presence of two special guests was the main difference: the doctor who operated the elbow and the son of three-year-old Djokovic, Stefan, who was in the stands for the presentation of the trophy.
Later, they met in a hallway, and Djokovic knelt to kiss his child [19659003] "Djokovic said," because for the first time in my life, I have someone screaming "Daddy! Papa & # 39; "
As much as Djokovic is known for his defense of the body and his infallible readings on the services of the opponents, he is also Someone who fills his matches with histrionic and exaggerated reactions, either by striking violently the side of his shoe with his racket – as he did against Nadal in their thrilling five-set semifinal that began Friday and ended Saturday – shirt to celebrate a victory.
This day n & rsquo; Was not different .. Irritated by fans making noise during the points, he told the chair umpire to tell them to shut up, throwing a colorful word into the request.
He pointed his ear after gaining a point, as if to say, "Who are you? cheer for the moment ?! "He blew a kiss to the stands after the other.
But when he broke Anderson for the second time in three service games early, Djokovic just clenched a fist while calmly watching his box. The bright yellow numbers over there showed that Djokovic was already leading 4-1 after 18 minutes of play.
Maybe he also declared champion at that moment.
AP
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tennis,
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Published
July 16, 2018 06:34:00
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