bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Agence France-Presse

Nick Kyrgios can become one of Wimbledon’s most controversial champions on Sunday when he faces Novak Djokovic in a final set to showcase flamboyant shotmaking punctuated by likely dark mood swings.
The maverick Australian crowd-pleaser is in his first grand slam final at the age of 27 after a roller-coaster career.
There have been tempestuous outbursts, spats with players, officials and media and fines that he has previously estimated have cost him US$500,000.
When Rafael Nadal’s injury-enforced withdrawal gave him a free passage into Sunday’s final, The Daily Telegraph asked if it represented “Wimbledon’s worst nightmare”.

Kyrgios has been box office on and off the court at the All England Club.
In a campaign of all-out attack, he has fired a tournament-leading 120 aces, 292 winners, the second-fastest serve of 137 miles per hour (220 kilometres per hour) while being broken only six times.
But he has picked up a further US$14,000 in fines, spat in the direction of fans and was even accused of having an “evil side” and being a “bully” by third-round rival Stefanos Tsitsipas.

He also has the added distraction of a court appearance in Australia next month, related to an allegation of assault.
“I never thought I’d be here at all, to be brutally honest with you,” said the 27-year-old.
“I’m just super proud and I’m just ready to go. Once you are able to raise a grand slam trophy, that’s like, I mean, kind of what else is there to achieve?”
Kyrgios said that, win or lose on Sunday, he has already put his many detractors in their place.
“Since I was born, only eight people have ever won this title, like eight people,” he said. “I’m just going to give it my best shot.”

"One thing is for sure, there's going to be fireworks" ​🎆@DjokerNole is excited for his battle with @NickKyrgios on Sunday#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/jU0m3PkJFf
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 8, 2022

The final will be a clash between two men who have rarely seen eye-to-eye.
When Djokovic organised his ill-fated Adria Tour during the pandemic, Kyrgios accused him of “lacking leadership and humility”.
He once described the Serb’s post-match victory celebrations as “cringeworthy”.
Djokovic hit back last year when he said: “Off the court, I don’t have much respect for him, to be honest.”
However, Kyrgios performed an about-turn by becoming one of the few players to offer Djokovic support in his Australia deportation saga in January, related to his coronavirus vaccination status.

“We definitely have a bit of a bromance now, which is weird,” said Kyrgios on Friday.
“We actually message each other on DMs in Instagram now and stuff. Earlier in the week, he was like, ‘Hopefully I’ll see you Sunday’.”
Kyrgios knows how to beat Djokovic, winning their only two meetings in 2017 in Acapulco and Indian Wells without dropping a set.
Victory on Sunday would make him only the third unseeded man to lift the trophy after Boris Becker in 1985 and Goran Ivanisevic in 2001.
Djokovic is in his eighth Wimbledon final.
He is chasing a seventh title to pull level with Pete Sampras and sit one behind Roger Federer’s men’s record of eight.

Victory would take him to 21 Grand Slams, one ahead of Federer and one behind Nadal.
Djokovic admits that he has warmed to Kyrgios but stopped short of agreeing they were at the “bromance” level.
“We definitely have a better relationship than what it was probably prior to January this year,” said Djokovic.
“When it was really tough for me in Australia, he was one of the very few players that came out publicly and supported me and stood by me. That’s something I truly appreciate. So I respect him for that a lot.”
Djokovic praised Kyrgios for playing “lights-out every time he steps out onto the court”.
China’s Zhang Shuai into Wimbledon women’s doubles final
He believes his experience could be crucial against a player whose previous best performance at the slams were quarter-final runs at Wimbledon in 2014 and the Australian Open the following year.
“But he’s a big-match player. The best tennis he’s played is always against the top guys. That’s why we all respect him, because we know what he can come up with.”
“I’m glad that he’s in the final because he’s got so much talent.”


Russell Crowe’s luxury watch collection, which the Gladiator star revealed on TikTok

Year in tennis: ‘Sincaraz’ rivalry splits men’s grand slams while 4 share women’s titles

How old-school sports brands are making a fashionable comeback, from Reebok to Fila and Kappa

Carlos Alcaraz’s impressive Rolex collection: 6 timepieces worn by the tennis star

Wimbledon

Wimbledon’s ‘worst nightmare’? Nick Kyrgios tackles Novak Djokovic for title as ‘weird bromance’ blooms

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios reacts as he plays against Chile’s Cristian Garin during their men’s singles quarter final at Wimbledon. Photo: AFP

Rafael Nadal receives treatment just before a medical timeout as he plays Taylor Fritz in a men’s singles quarter-final at Wimbledon. Photo: AP

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios shakes hands with Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas after winning their third-round match at Wimbledon. Photo: TNS

Novak Djokovic reacts during his men’s singles semi-final against Cameron Norrie at Wimbledon. Photo: Xinhua

Novak Djokovic serves to Cameron Norrie at Wimbledon. Photo: Xinhua

Wimbledon: China’s Zhang Shuai into women’s doubles final as she chases third grand slam title

Zhang Shuai of China waves to the spectators as Elise Mertens of Belgium looks on after they won their women’s doubles semi-final at Wimbledon. Photo: Xinhua

Wimbledon: Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong denied semi-final spot by own doubles partner – then they have to play together

Coleman Wong was chasing semi-final spots in both singles and doubles on Thursday. Photo: HKTA

Sport

Tennis


Maverick Australian crowd-pleaser is in his first grand slam final at the age of 27 after a roller-coaster career
Djokovic expecting ‘fireworks’ against a man with whom he has rarely seen eye-to-eye until recent times



Novak Djokovic expects ‘fireworks’ against Nick Kyrgios on Sunday, as ‘weird bromance’ blooms between two men who have rarely seen eye-to-eye.


Novak Djokovic