Novak Djokovic fended off a typically feisty Nick Kyrgios in the final, 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(3), to claim his seventh Wimbledon crown and 21st Grand Slam title.
The unpredictable Australian made a fast start on serve in his maiden Grand Slam singles final against the top seed and reigning champion on Centre Court.
The 27-year-old, who was unseeded at the All England Club, took just minutes to delight the fans with an underarm serve, which may well have been the first during a Wimbledon singles final.
Despite how successful the tactic often is for him, on this occasion Djokovic was very much ready and waiting and had no trouble at all pouncing to punish it.
Thankfully for Kyrgios, he was 40-0 up on serve when he attempted the underarm delivery and he managed to hold from 40-30 without the game having to go to deuce.
As is so often the case, Djokovic lost the opening set as Kyrgios continued his positive and punishing start to the match. A single break of serve was sufficient for him to stamp his authority on the match and assume the early advantage.
In keeping with his previous performances at SW19, the Serb roared back almost immediately with a break of serve to seize the initiative in the second set.
The first mutterings, and at times yells, followed from Kyrgios as he felt frustration for the first time in the match.
A monumental service game drew the second set to a close as Djokovic fended off several break points in a seemingly interminable deuce as he battled and battled to come through under immense pressure to level up the match.
The third set was one of high drama as a tense Kyrgios totally lost his cool with the umpire over a fan who he felt was distracting him during a service game. “She’s drunk out of her mind!” he yelled. “700 drinks, bro!” He received a code violation for his foul language during the rant.
Djokovic, undeterred on the other side of the net, clinched the crucial break of serve and closed out the third set to move ahead in the match and leave Kyrgios chuntering to his box about a wide range of frustrations.
The tension could not have been higher in the fourth set as an irritated Kyrgios continued to let his feelings be very well known.
Again it was Djokovic who best held his composure in the tie-break to clinch yet another title – his seventh – after just over three hours at the All England Club.
