Nick Kyrgios found firsthand that playing against one of the greatest tennis champions of all time in a five set match is like climbing a mountain.
On Wimbledon’s Centre Court on Sunday, Novak Djokovic broke Kyrgios’ serve for the first time in their three meetings.
He also as broke his mental fortitude, as the Australian recorded a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) loss in the men’s singles final.
He later said one of the key differences was facing one of tennis’s all-time greats over five sets instead of three.
“In a best-of-three match, you know you have no room to breathe,” Kyrgios said.
“In best-of-five against these guys, Novak and Nadal in general, even Federer, you feel like you win the first set, you still have to climb up Mount Everest to get it done.
“Whereas best-of-three those two previous times, I won the first set, I was right on top of him, and I kept pressing and pressing.”
Djokovic defeated Kyrgios and claimed a seventh Wimbledon and 21st grand slam singles title but did not break was Kyrgios’s resolve.
Kyrgios fought this match all the way to the end and pushed Djokovic to play some of his best tennis.
Any animosity between Kyrgios and Djokovic has officially evaporated and the flourishing bromance was there for all to see.
On court, Kyrgios described Djokovic as “a bit of a god” after the Serbian great put up a wall, making just 17 unforced errors for the match in a performance that heralded — after the dreadful back end of 2021 and start of 2022 — Djokovic was back.
Kyrgios pushed him hard and let key chances slip, chief among them missing out on triple-break-back point as Djokovic served for the second set.
Kyrgios knew he had wasted a gilt-edged opportunity.
“Obviously [I am] very disappointed,” Kyrgios said.
“I played a hell of a first set and put myself in a position to, you know, obviously take a stranglehold of the match.
“You look at what Novak has done to some other opponents, and it’s not a good feeling, but I’m right there. I’m not behind the eight ball at all. I played a slam final against one of the greatest of all time, and I was right there.”
Although he played the big points exceptionally well throughout the tournament, Kyrgios was let down in some of the bigger moments, as Djokovic won two of the four break-point chances he had, and Kyrgios only managed one of six.
“Hats off to him,” Kyrgios said. “That was a hell of a match. I thought I served well. I put myself in a position to win, but I just wasn’t able to play those clutch points well at all today.”
The other momentum shift came at 4-4 in the third set, when Kyrgios let Djokovic back into a service game where he had a 40-0 lead. In the context of the match, it proved pivotal. Djokovic later called it a turning point.
“I didn’t win it, he lost that game with his unforced errors. I just stayed there and pushed him to the limit, and I got the reward.”
Kyrgios himself said the toughest thing for him was Djokovic’s relentless pressure.
It was a contrast that was easy to see. One player screaming at their box, the other largely stoic.
“He’s just really composed,” Kyrgios said. “I felt like he didn’t do anything amazing today, he returned, obviously, the way he returns.
“He’s just a great returner, but he was just so composed.
“In big moments, it just felt like he was never rattled.
