Andrew
Novak Djokovic promised there will be “fireworks” when he takes on Australia’s Nick Kyrgios in today’s Wimbledon final.
Six-time champion Djokovic reached his eighth final at the All England Club and a record 32nd at the Slams by seeing off Cameron Norrie 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals of the tournament.
“The job is not finished. One thing is for sure: There are going to be a lot of fireworks emotionally from both sides,” said the 35-year-old Djokovic. Despite playing in his first final at the majors, Kyrgios boasts a 2-0 edge over the former world number one.
In the meetings in Acapulco and Indian Wells in 2017, Djokovic failed to win a set.
“We haven’t played for some time. I have never won a set off him,” said Djokovic.
“Hopefully it can be different this time. It’s another final for me at Wimbledon, so hopefully, the experience can work in my favour.”
For the second match in succession, Djokovic dropped the opening set before sweeping past 12th-ranked Norrie, playing in his first semifinal at the Slams.
The left-hander even broke serve three times in the opener before his challenge fizzled out under the bright afternoon sun.
“I was a bit tight at the beginning of the match. Cameron was dominating the play and I felt like I got lucky in the second set to break his serve,” added Djokovic.
“He kind of gifted me a game and then the momentum shifted a bit. That’s the significance of the semifinals of a Grand Slam,” he said.
Many would say Norrie punched way above his weight by reaching the Wimbledon semifinals, but not the Briton.
He wants to go further and win a Grand Slam one day.
The 26-year-old led the home challenge at the All England Club over the last fortnight, but his bid to become the first British finalist since Andy Murray won his second Wimbledon title in 2016 ended in defeat.
With the Centre Court crowd basking in sunshine, the left-hander gave the packed stands a lot to cheer when he won the opening set against the top seed, but the six-times Wimbledon champion Djokovic recovered to win the match.
“I think it was a good experience to play him,” Norrie said.
“Especially the level he brings here at Wimbledon. Yeah, it gives me a lot of confidence.
“Loved it, loved every moment of it. I think I need to keep working hard and (I have) still got a lot of things I can improve on my game.
“To reach the semis, reach the Friday of the second week, is pretty sick.
“But I think, for me, I want to go more and I want to do more of that and go one further and try to win a Slam,” he said.
Norrie came into the grass court major seeded ninth and carried the weight of expectation from the home nation, especially after twice champion Murray and US Open winner Emma Raducanu exited in the second round.
South Africa-born Norrie said there were many things to be proud of during his deep run and that he learned a great deal.
“A lot of firsts for me, a lot of good experiences,” Norrie added.
“Hopefully I can take them in my stride.
“I think looking, comparing to Novak, I think it was just that the level of execution from him that was better.
“His level of focus, the way he handled his service games was better than me.
“That was the difference,” he said. — AFP/Reuters.
Online Reporter