After their enthralling Wimbledon final, Nick Kyrgios could only admire the level of play from 21-time major winner Novak Djokovic, calling him "a bit of a god".
Kyrgios won the first set of his first grand slam singles final, but the top-seeded Serb hit his stride after that to complete the 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) win.
It marked Djokovic's seventh Wimbledon title and his fourth in a row, and took him to outright second among male major winners, behind only Rafael Nadal with 22 slams.
Kyrgios said he hoped to return to a major final again one day, but admitted he was unsure if he could do it, as the past two weeks took a physical toll.
Look back at how the match unfolded in our live blog below.
Key events
- Novak Djokovic is a seven-time Wimbledon champion
- Djokovic wins the tie-break for the championship!
- Djokovic wins the third set 6-4 against a frustrated Nick Kyrgios
- Kyrgios is broken after leading 40-0
- Kyrgios calling for a drunk audience member to be booted
- Novak Djokovic fights off four break points to win the second set
- Kyrgios wins the first set in the Wimbledon final
- Novak Djokovic holds serve to start the men's singles final
- Nick Kyrgios's Wimbledon story
- Novak Djokovic's Wimbledon story
- When does the Wimbledon final start?
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Live updates
By Jon Healy
A legendary performance from a legend of the game
It's hard to imagine someone playing better than Novak Djokovic in the last three sets of that match.
His precision, power and poise after dropping the first set made it impossible for Kyrgios to get back into the match, even as he had so many opportunities.
Every time a rally started, it was a fight, and more often than not, Djokovic won them, especially in the biggest moments.
Down 0-40 or up 40-0, Djokovic's level was always elite, and it proved the difference more than a few times in that match.
Will Kyrgios be back? I honestly don't know. You'd have to think he's proven to himself he can do it, and he seemed to enjoy the tournament, so let's wait and see.
As for Djokovic, he's certainly going to keep hunting Nadal, who's out there on 22. And I'm sure he's eyeing off Serena's 23 and Margaret Court's 24 too.
He seems as hungry as ever, so I can't imagine him slowing down.
But speaking of slowing down, I'm going to cut this blog off there, but you can read the full match wrap and we'll have more coverage later today.
As for me, I'll be back blogging the State of Origin decider on Wednesday night, so I hope to see you there!
By Jon Healy
Wimbledon 'the most special tournament in my heart': Djokovic
This win gives Djokovic seven Wimbledon titles, matching Pete Sampras for the second-most men's titles at the All England Club.
And he says Sampras's 1992 title was his first memory of tennis. (Sampras didn't win Wimbledon until 1993, but we'll let a little factual error slide considering the amount of energy he just expended out there.)
"I've lost words for what this tournament, what this trophy means to me, to my team, to my family. I have said this many times.
"It always has been and will be the most special tournament in my heart, the one that motivated me, inspired me to start playing tennis in a small little mountain resort in Serbia where my parents used to run the restaurant.
"I was four-and-a-half, five years old and I saw Pete Sampras win his first Wimbledon. I asked my mum and dad to buy me a racquet. And my first image of tennis was grass and Wimbledon.
"I always dreamed of coming here and just playing in this court. Then, of course, realising the childhood dream and winning this trophy. Every single time it gets more and more meaningful and special and so I'm very blessed and very thankful to be standing here with the trophy."
And he says he's happy to call it a "bromance" with Kyrgios now.
"Nick, you will be back. Not just Wimbledon but [other] finals. I know it is tough to find consolation after a tough loss like this, but you showed why you [are] one of the best players in the world, particularly on this surface. Congratulations to your team for an amazing tournament. I wish you all the best.
"I really respect Nick a lot. I think you are a phenomenal tennis player and athlete. Amazing talent. You have been hearing all of that for many years, but now everything is starting to come together for you, so I'm sure we are going to see much of you in the later stages of grand slams.
"I never thought [would] say so many nice things about you considering the relationship [we've had in the past].
"OK, it is officially a bromance."
By Jon Healy
Djokovic 'a bit of a god': Kyrgios
Kyrgios can barely believe the standard he just came up against.
"He is a bit of a God. I'm not going to lie. I thought I played well."
He's asked if this run has made him hungry for more.
"Absolutely not. I'm so tired, honestly.
"Myself, my team, I think we are all exhausted. We played so much tennis.
"I definitely need a well-earned vacation after this one. So I'm just really happy with this result. It is probably the best of my career. Hopefully maybe one day I will be here again. But I don't know about that."
By Jon Healy
Novak Djokovic is a seven-time Wimbledon champion
What a performance from Novak Djokovic in this final, beating Nick Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) to win his seventh Wimbledon title, fourth in a row, and 21st grand slam crown overall.
He does his weird grass-eating celebration, as Kyrgios is left to lament and watch the "boob-throwing" celebration he's mocked in the past.
Kyrgios has a steely look on his face as he sits in his seat. It's a look that seems, to me at least, to say 'yeah I missed some shots, but how the hell are you supposed to beat that?'.
He gave him everything in the first set, dominating with his serve and dictating in longer rallies. But once Djokovic got his feet under him, he was playing an impossibly good brand of tennis.
It certainly contributed to the unravelling at the other end, but make no mistake, Novak Djokovic won this one. Kyrgios didn't implode.
By Jon Healy
Djokovic wins the tie-break for the championship!
Kyrgios serving first. Oh my god. He's murdered a 200kph second serve and it's juuuuust out. 0-1
He's jawing at his box again before Djokovic serves a pair of lets. Djokovic finally gets into the point and follows a ball into the net. Kyrgios tries to pass crosscourt from well behind the baseline, but Djokovic volleys into the open court. 2-0 Djokovic
Where'd that come from? A completely unforced forehand error into the from Djokovic. 2-1 Djokovic
Slices, forehands, power, finesse ... and Kyrgios belts his forehand wide. 1-3 Djokovic
Another error, this time off the backhand wing for Kyrgios. 1-4 Djokovic
Kyrgios nets a forehand, and Djokovic takes a 5-1 lead into the change of ends.
Another Kyrgios error. Djokovic leads 1-6. This is it.
Kyrgios saves two match points. Djokovic still leads 6-3. He'll serve for the championship.
DJOKOVIC WINS IT!
By Jon Healy
Djokovic forces a tie-break
Kyrgios was jabbering at the umpire between games, but he has challenges he could use. He also often gets on umpires for not overruling so I don't know what he wants from them.
Djokovic appears to change his mind mid-shot and sends a backhand well wide. 0-15
But again he saves it with a big serve, followed by powerful groundstrokes. 15-15. And again for 30-15.
"Let's go, Kygs," Kyrgios says as Djokovic sends a ball long to make it 30-30.
Djokovic makes it 40-30 with a big second serve out wide. He doesn't usually go for it on the second, and I think it surprised Kyrgios, who framed his return. 40-30
And that's game for Djokovic. Expertly played. Composed as ever.
By Jon Healy
Kyrgios makes it 6-5 with another big hold of serve
Excellent drop shot from Kyrgios sneaks over the net, and Djokovic can't get it back. He's shouting at his box now. 15-0
Djokovic gets a look at a second serve and fires a backhand at the toes of the advancing Kyrgios. I've said it before and I'll say it again... freak. 15-15
Kyrgios keeps getting into the net and Djokovic keeps forcing him to play extra shots, but he's up to it here, smashing home the winner. 30-15
Oh Djokovic had the point on his racket as he tracked down a short ball, but he couldn't find the court. 40-15
Kyrgios thought he had an ace, Djokovic challenged, but the umpire overruled, and Kyrgios didn't want to waste a challenge. Then he drills the crosscourt forehand, and it's called out, but he doesn't challenge that one. What? 40-30
All for nought though, as he aces wide to wrap up another service game.
By Jon Healy
Pressure is on, but Djokovic holds serve to stay in the fourth set
He starts with a double fault. 0-15
Kyrgios races into the net, but Djokovic plays a perfect backhand that forces a tough low volley from Kyrgios, who can't control it. 15-15
Big unreturnable serve down the 'T' from Djokovic to reach 30-15.
A deep forehand forces the error from Kyrgios, so Djokovic moves to 40-15.
A bit of a SABR charge from Kyrgios, running at the second serve and punching a backhand winner return. 40-30
But Djoker aces out wide to hold.
By Jon Healy
Kyrgios serving again and holds with nerves of steel
He moves to 30-0, and you get the sense we're heading to a tie-break in this one.
Oh get lost! Kyrgios cuts a backhand volley crosscourt that dies on Djokovic, who slipped while chasing, but he still found the angle to hit a winner. 30-15
Phwoar! Huge off forehand winner by Djokovic. 30-30
Kyrgios slams the window shut with an ace, but as we've learned tonight, it's never locked when Djokovic is around. 40-30
Bang. Big serve down the T. Steely hold from Kyrgios.
By Jon Healy
Kyrgios looking focused, but Djokovic holds to love for 4-4
Kyrgios sends a backhand well long. Completely mistimed. Maybe took a kick off the baseline. 15-0
Kyrgios belts a backhand into the net at the end of a long slugfest of a rally, and he's not happy. Some dingbat shouted out during the rally, apropos of nothing. 30-0
Ace. 40-0
And Djokovic holds to love again. Kyrgios isn't doing all that much wrong, but Djokovic is just about perfect right now. Seemingly unaffected by the pressure.
By Jon Healy
Kyrgios holds for a 4-3 lead in the fourth set
He goes ace, but follows it up with a double fault. 15-15
Kyrgios firing himself up as his serve forces Djokovic to miss. 30-15
The touch at the net from Kyrgios! Amazing skill to beat Djokovic. He seems infinitely more composed in this game. 40-15
Oh god. And now he's arguing with the let machine. He thought he'd wrapped up the game with an ace, but the machine went off.
He resettles and bangs one down the 'T'. "Let's go!" he says. The focus is back.
Can't be overstated how valuable it is to serve first in the set when you hit them like Kyrgios.
By Jon Healy
Djokovic holds to love to make it 3-3
Power on the serve, precision on the backhand and touch on the volley gives Djokovic another love hold.
By Jon Healy
Kyrgios holds dramatically to reach 3-2
A short ball is called in, overruled, then challenged after a bit of chat back and forth. It's in, but then Kyrgios just undoes it all by belting down an unreturnable serve. 15-0
Kyrgios skips to 40-0 and lets me and the other viewers know it's taken Djokovic two hours and 20 minutes to miss a second-serve return.
Djokovic just keeps forcing longer service games, pulling out two amazing points to make it 40-30, and again Kyrgios is getting on his box for relaxing at 40-0. Something tells me Nick is the one getting complacent in those moments.
But he saves it with a monster off-forehand winner.
By Jon Healy
Djokovic serving from behind
Kyrgios has the advantage of serving first and he can't give that up again like he did last set.
Djokovic falls behind 0-15, but he digs himself out of trouble with his forehand. 15-15
A second serve stumps Kyrgios and he nets the cramped forehand return. 30-15
Ace out wide. Kyrgios drops another f-bomb. Again, he needs to be careful about the audible obscenities with a warning already on board. 40-15
Second serve again baffles Kyrgios, this time on the backhand wing. Game Djokovic
By Jon Healy
Kyrgios holds emphatically to lead the fourth set 2-1 on serve
Oh the drop shot, maybe the best of the lot so far. I don't know how he's doing it. 0-15
Kyrgios gets back into it with a big serve, and then following another into the net to make it 30-15.
The Aussie steps in and powers to 40-15, finishing the game with a wide ace.
By Jon Healy
Djokovic holds for 1-1
Kyrgios isn't playing at such a rapid pace now, perhaps calming himself down.
Oh that won't help. Perfect drop shot from Djokovic from BEHIND the baseline. That backhand drop shot down the line is not as easy as he makes it look. Not even close. 15-0
Power from the baseline from both players and Kyrgios goes for too much, spraying a forehand long. 30-0
Ace for 40-0.
Another love hold.
By Jon Healy
Djokovic is back on court, and Kyrgios holds serve to start the set
He steps in on a big serve and rips a forehand winner. And immediately whinging to his box. Come on, mate. 15-0
Big serve down the T makes it 30-0.
Djokovic works his way forward to the net and Kyrgios drills a backhand at his toes. He can't dig it out, and that's 40-0.
Drop shot from Kyrgios is reached by Djokovic and he finds the baseline with a winner. 40-15
Djokovic seemed set to stage another ambush with a stunning return, but Kyrgios bunts the crosscourt backhand into the open court to get the early lead.
By Jon Healy
Djokovic on fire
Some of this returning by Djokovic is now bordering on absurd.
- LW
The Serb has gone for a bathroom break. Looks like a change of clothes between sets, but his level of play is through the roof right now.
I think this break will actually be good for Kyrgios, who needs to calm down, and historically he can't do that while playing.
By Jon Healy
What Nick wants
What is it that Kyrgios shouts at his crew ? What does he want ?
- Adam
He just wants his box to shout and hoot and holler at the right times. Never relax. But also, he's admonished them in the past for applauding shots he doesn't think are good.
So who really knows?
By Jon Healy
Djokovic wins the third set 6-4 against a frustrated Nick Kyrgios
A couple of cheap points with big serves. Aside from that one shout at his box, Djokovic is in full robot mode. 30-0
Freewheeling Kyrgios is dangerous though, and he's ripped a forehand return that Djokovic can't get back. 30-15
Then a massive winner off a kick serve. He's out of darns to give and it's working for him. 30-30
Probably helps that Djokovic can't land a first serve in this game. And the ball toss is off. Yips?
Kicking second serve forces the error from Kyrgios. 40-30
Kyrgios's backhand is wide and that's the third set gone.
