Top-seeded Novak Djokovic moved within one win of capturing his fourth consecutive Wimbledon title courtesy of a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 semifinal victory Friday against ninth-seeded Cameron Norrie in London.
A six-time champion at the All England Club, Djokovic will compete in his 32nd career final in a Grand Slam on Sunday when he meets Nick Kyrgios. The 27-year-old Australian advanced to his first major final after his semifinal opponent, Rafael Nadal of Spain, withdrew due to an abdominal injury.
“One thing for sure, there is going to be a lot of fireworks emotionally from both of us,” Djokovic said of Sunday’s match. “It is going to be his first Grand Slam final. He is very excited and he doesn’t have much to lose and he is always playing like that. He is playing so freely, one of the biggest serves in the game.
“Just a big game overall, a lot of power in his shots. We haven’t played for some time. I have never won a set off him. Hopefully it can be different this time.”
Djokovic, 35, has dropped both of his career encounters against Kyrgios — both in 2017.
Kyrgios, however, admitted Friday that he had trouble sleeping while thinking of his upcoming championship match.
“I was just restless, so many thoughts in my head about a Wimbledon final. That’s all I was thinking about,” Kyrgios said. “I was thinking just playing, obviously imagining myself winning, imagining myself losing, everything.”
Djokovic likely won’t be nervous considering he’s been in this position before. The Serbian, after all, is bidding to win his 21st Grand Slam title.
He overcame a first-set stumble and recorded 13 aces and 38 winners to defeat the native of Great Britain in two hours and 24 minutes.
“I didn’t start off well. He was the better player for the first set. I have had many semi-finals at Grand Slams before, but it is never easy walking out onto court,” Djokovic said.
“You have a lot of pressure and expectation from yourself and others. Cameron didn’t have much to lose, he is playing the tournament of his life. Playing at home is never easy, but I wish him all the best. He is a great player and I have a lot of respect for him.”
Djokovic answered his misstep in the first set by breezing to victory in the second. He started the third by taking five of the first six games to change the momentum of the match.
–Field Level Media
