LONDON – This deficit is less of a problem for Novak Djokovic. The tension is less palpable. Of course, it’s not like he wants to fall behind in matches. That’s when he did, he knew how to deal with it.
Djokovic said: “It’s amazing how the whole match can fall apart, just because you feel you’re stressed. After that, none of the shots really work. Your legs are static and slow. “, said Djokovic. “Something happens during a match, then suddenly it’s completely different and you’re flying. Everything is flowing.”
Top-seeded Djokovic made his second straight comeback win at Wimbledon on Friday, beating 9th-seeded Cameron Norrie England with a score of 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in the semi-finals to extend his winning streak at the All England Club to 27 games as he chases a fourth straight title. on its turf.
“The more situations you go through, it’s not that you feel better, it’s just that you feel more prepared. You know what to expect,” Djokovic said. “It’s always really about handling your own nerves better than maybe your opponent’s his own. This internal battle is always the biggest.”
He will face the grand finalist for the first time Nick Kyrgios for the trophy on Sunday.
“The work,” said Djokovic, “is not done yet.”
The discreet Kyrgios, a flaming 27-year-old from Australia who has caused ridicule for mentioning his name in Djokovic’s on-court interview, doesn’t need to play Friday for home. won the Grand Slam 22 times Rafael Nadal withdrew with a torn abs.
“Throat mouth” is how Kyrgios describes the upcoming match.
He has won both times against Djokovic before, even though they played on hard courts five years ago.
“One thing is for sure,” said Djokovic. “There will be a lot of fireworks, emotionally, from both.”
Djokovic’s attendance to another Wimbledon final is much more expected than Kyrgios’ presence. But as top seed Djokovic has noted, his opponent Sunday has the talent to be in the spotlight.
“These are the occasions that he loves, where he thrives, on a big stage,” said Djokovic. “So in a way, I’m not surprised he’s there either. Honestly, as a tennis fan, I’m glad he’s in the final because he has a lot of talent. Everyone praises him when he goes on tour, expecting great things from him.
“Of course, then we knew what had happened throughout the years with him mentally, emotionally. On and off the court, so many different things had distracted him and he can’t get this stability. For a player of the quality. he is, this is where he needs to be, and he deserves it.”
This will be Djokovic’s 32nd Grand Slam title match, breaking the men’s record he shares Roger Federer, and helped the 35-year-old Serbian to his 21st and seventh major titles at Wimbledon. Only Federer, with 8, owns more at the men’s turf tournament.
On the sweltering afternoon in two weeks, with temperatures of 85 degrees and still air, Djokovic often looks disgruntled forward, fidgeting toward his guest box. But unlike in the quarterfinals, when he dropped the opening two sets with Jannik Sinner before winning the year, it took very little time for Djokovic to assert his dominance.
It’s hard to know exactly what allows Djokovic to track, then win – he has seven career comebacks from a two-set loss, including in the 2021 French Open final – indeed. hard to know. He claims a bathroom talk helped fight Sinner. He joked that wearing a white hat after the first set made a difference to Norrie.
When asked at Friday’s press conference to explain the white bottle he apparently inhaled during another match, Djokovic gave an oral response: “Magic potion.”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” he added, “but I can’t talk about it right now.”
Djokovic vs Norrie started well enough that locals hope to see one of their men reach the men’s final, something the only two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has been a hit for England since the professional era began in 1968.
There was a roar as left-handed Norrie stepped up from his seat; Djokovic is pouring some water on his hands and rubbing it in his hair. When Norrie’s volley winner completed the break in that first game, he jumped and threw an uppercut. Union Jack flag waving in the stands.
Has the championship been won? No. One last stop earned? It’s not that either. All in all, it was a celebration after one of those games that would turn out to be 35 games, five out of 202 points, four in 154 minutes.
When Djokovic snapped right behind him, he walked over to grab a white towel and sweat it. For him, this is not a monumental achievement.
Just a small example of how versatile and brilliant Djokovic came from a magical special point. He hit a spinning half-volley on the go, but Norrie responded with a lob. So Djokovic ran back to the bottom line, netting behind him, and produced a high lap between his feet, facing his own wrong way that had somehow landed. Norrie ran to it, turning his body. body to answer with a forehand and Djokovic ended the 14-stroke exchange with a volley drop winner.
Even the parties on hand cheered in approval. Djokovic raised his right index finger to the sky.
However, only two of Norrie’s first 20 points came from the winners he created. Djokovic committed 12 non-compulsory fouls in the first set alone. A gauge of how he’s got his order back: Djokovic has made 16 non-compulsory errors in the final three sets combined.
Norrie, having never made it past the third round at a major, became less sharp as Djokovic ramped up the pressure – in the point range and on the scoreboard. A particularly sloppy service game by Norrie, with a trio of unwarranted errors helped Djokovic break serve to lead 5-3 in the second set.
Djokovic, who will play 11 of 13 games in a match-switching period, said: “He’s gifted me with that.
He was broken three times in the first set, then never faced a break point the rest of the way.
Perhaps feeling their guy could use a boost, some fans chanted “Let’s go, Norrie, let’s go!” first in the third set. Doesn’t change anything.
Djokovic broke to open third. Do the same on Wednesday.
“Just lock it up,” said Norrie.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
