Djokovic Returns To Grand Slam Winners’ Circle At Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic captured his first Grand Slam title for 25 months on Sunday with his fourth crown at The Championship, Wimbledon (also 2011, 2014-15).

The Serbian No. 12 seed swept past eighth-seeded South African Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(3) in a final watched by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Theresa May, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Djokovic, with 13 major titles (13-9 in finals) following his first victory since May 2016 at Roland Garros (d. Murray), now stands in fourth place in the all-time Grand Slam singles final list, behind Roger Federer (20), Rafael Nadal (17), the player he beat 10-8 in the fifth set of this year’s semi-finals, and Pete Sampras (14).

As the lowest-ranked man to win the Wimbledon title since No. 125-ranked wild card Goran Ivanisevic in 2001, Djokovic will return tomorrow to the Top 10 in the ATP Rankings (at No. 10) for the first time since 30 October 2017 (No. 7). The victory also boosts his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals, the elite eight-player season finale, at The O2 in London from 11-18 November.

Twelve months ago, the former World No. 1 retired in the second set of his Wimbledon quarter-final against Tomas Berdych with a right elbow injury, which resulted in a six-month injury layoff. Djokovic returned to the ATP World Tour in January this year with a refined service technique and gradually rebuilt his confidence in recent months, including a semi-final run at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia (l. to Nadal) and a runner-up finish at the recent Fever-Tree Championships – his first ATP World Tour final for 12 months.

Djokovic secured the fifth grass-court title — and 69th of his career (69-31 overall) — against Anderson on Sunday, in his first major final since September 2016 at the US Open (l. to Wawrinka). He committed 13 unforced errors for his 25th and most significant match win of the year (25-9).

Anderson got off to a nervous start, striking a forehand long at 30/30 and then double faulting at break point to gift Djokovic the first game. Djokovic won 12 of the first 15 points to seize early control of the final. Although Anderson has contested the 2017 US Open, the occasion at the All England Club, coupled with nerves and stellar groundstroke play from Djokovic, ensured the South African’s potency on serve and movement was compromised. Djokovic soon led 5-1 after just 21 minutes and Anderson received treatment for a right arm injury at the end of the one-sided first set.

Djokovic carried the momentum into the second set, breaking Anderson’s serve in the first and fifth games. Although Anderson was more competitive, Djokovic kept the upper hand in longer rallies and kept his opponent on the backfoot with changes in groundstroke pace. Anderson created his first break point at 2-5, 30/40, but he struck a backhand long in an 18-stroke rally and Djokovic won the next two points for a commanding lead.

Anderson grew in belief in the third set, finding his service rhythm (having hit just two aces in the first two sets) and groundstroke depth to prevent Djokovic dominating baseline rallies. One break point went begging on Djokovic’s serve at 3-4, but the pressure kept building on the Serbian, who saved two set points at 4-5.

Anderson slipped in retrieving a deep forehand that hit the baseline on the first set point, which ended with Djokovic striking a forehand drop shot winner close to the net. Djokovic was again able to step into the court again, two points later, in saving a second set point with a crosscourt forehand winner. Errors crept into Djokovic’s game and at 5-6, Anderson could not convert three further set point opportunities. Each time, Djokovic struck his serve to Anderson’s forehand. A forehand pass by Djokovic at 1/2 in the tie-break propelled the former World No. 1 to an emotional win.

Djokovic now leads Anderson 6-1 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series. Anderson beat John Isner 26-24 in the fifth set of their semi-final on Friday.