Kyrgios

[Mav]

Novak tried to overpower Norrie in the 1st set but then took the pace off the ball and challenged Norrie to generate his own pace. Norrie couldn’t. As the commentators noted, Norrie has lots of topspin on the forehand but a very flat stroke on the backhand. Neither is ideal when it comes to blasting the ball past a human wall like Novak. The rope-a-dope strategy won’t work against Nick.

[Gointocarlton]

I also never realised Djoker has never taken a set off Kyrgios.

[townsendcalling]

Djokovic was not convincing against a 115 mph server in Norrie, I think he'll find dealing with 125+ mph very difficult. It is going to be pretty warm and Djokovic doesn't like excessive heat. Kyrgios might have his moments and regret some past actions but what he does with kids and his NK Foundation, how he supports his mates ( great article in todays Age from his ex agent) and how he single-handedly motivated the tennis world to donate millions to the bushfire appeal a few years ago, is undeniable. He is providing an aging sport with a bit of 21st century piazzas! Last January, he and Kokkinakis made doubles tennis the hottest ticket in town (besides Barty) and produced an atmosphere that got a whole new generation of tennis fans queuing up to get a seat. There is not one tournament director in the world who would deny Kyrgios a wild card entry to their tournament......and make no mistake, the AELTC here at Wimbledon are delighted he has made the final!! 

[PaulP]

No way Kyrgios deserves to win Wimbledon, or any other Slam. He’s spent his whole career as the consummate unprofessional, disrespected his opponents, officials, fans, the media, the game and the institution of tennis, and ultimately himself. There are plenty of lesser players who take their careers more seriously, merely to eke out an existence on the lower tours, for less money and in worse conditions. He’s been given the keys to the kingdom in terms of talent, and carries on like something from Ali G central casting. Hopefully the tennis Gods have some good sense and a more merit based approach, and won’t be entrusting their most precious jewel to this serial underachiever and major league goofball.

I see no reason why immaturity, indifference, petulance and unprofessionalism should be rewarded, even if such reward comes from a compromised tournament, with several top players banned / injured, and no points on offer.

The fact that he is supposedly a super loyal friend and also Humanitarian of the Year is irrelevant in this context. Djokovic, Federer, Nadal and others also give time and money to charity. 

If he was from somewhere else, he would be as disliked as Djokovic, and nobody on here would give him the time of day.

[Mav]

That’s an odd perspective. I thought the player who deserves to win Wimbledon should be the one who wins all his matches there this year. Now, that player might not deserve to hold the ATP’s World No. 1 ranking as that requires consistency and professional attitudes to training and rehab as well as a lot of hard work, but that’s quite another thing.

Ironically, Djokovic is coached by Goran Ivanisevic. Goran broke Australian hearts by beating Pat Rafter in the Wimbledon final in 2001. He was ranked 126 in the world at the time and didn’t qualify for direct entry to the tournament: he needed a wildcard to enter. Of course, he was unseeded as Nick is this year. He was known for his big serve, attacking style and was known for on-court tantrums and the volatility of his performance. He was once defaulted from a match when he smashed all his racquets. I’m guessing he’ll be seeing a younger version of himself playing his current charge. And if Nick wins, he’d be the last person on earth who would say Nick didn’t deserve the title.

[Lappinlappystick]

Good to see Kryg in the final finally. Top line player who can beat anyone on his day. Will turn the flip if given a chance and could easily win this grand slam.

Much of his critics don’t realise his capacity to inflict the chupacabra on his opponents. We shall soon see.

[LP]

That’s an odd perspective.

Yet, in the context of all the players who commit to tennis 24x7 and battle their guts out each year for mediocre results, PaulP's perspective is quite relevant in a limited scope.

From a morality / social justice perspective, it might also have some currency.

But then, if Djoker won that is probably a spit in the face of social justice as well! I'm sure he'll use a win to justify his political position on vaccines and unrestrained freedoms for the separatist elite.

If Tomic cruised into a Grand Slam got some lucky breaks and made the final is he also deserving of success?

btw., I quite like watching Tennis with Kyrgios, but I admit I'm not a big tennis fan. However, I watched a bit of the girls final last night and the absence of grunting was heart warming, I could actually watch it! I also watched tennis when the likes of McEnroe, Connors or Lendl were piling on the animosity towards officials and opponents. I liked the theatre, and I side with Kyrgios when you hear them criticising Kyrgios' behaviour.

[Mav]

Effort doesn’t top talent no matter how much we’d like to see fairytale endings. Many of us might like to fantasise about being a popstar while we sing in the shower but the only way most of us would make money out of singing is if those who are forced to listen to it pay us to stop singing.

The funny thing is that we’ve already seen an example of a player who dominated female tennis through sheer hard work, but rather than seeing this as a heartwarming story of the universe being just for a change it was seen as a perversion of the sport. Caroline Wozniacki held the World No. 1 ranking for 71 weeks and was a decent player. But she was a defensive grinder who owed her stay at the top to her fitness and the WTA’s decision to incentivise players through the ranking system to enter as many tournaments as possible. While other players like Serena dominated the Slams, Wozniacki filled her boots with lesser titles. It wasn’t until 2018 that Wozniacki finally won her maiden and only Slam, the Aussie Open. There was much whinging during her reign as the World No. 1 that players who focussed on peak competition at the Slams weren’t recognised in the rankings when they were clearly the best players in the world.

[Gointocarlton]

After a flying start winning the first, Novak imposed his brilliance on Nick. Rallied in the 4th but the champ was too good. Well done to the young fella. Rest up and go again.

[LP]

Was a fantastic match, possibly the highest standard Wimbledon final I've ever watched, not that I've watch that many.

Djoker is just too good, he could barely reach some of those Kyrgios serves yet they still fell and Kyrgios feet. Kyrgios early was sublime, but if anything that just highlights how good you have to be to defeat Djoker.

As much as losing Nadal hurt the tournament, perhaps it's a good thing for tennis long term, Kyrgios might take some belief out of this and we'll have a new flavour on offer at the pointy end of tournaments.

PS; Kyrgios needs a coach, he could have won last night, but he retreated when he should have been on the attack. He needs someone to keep him on course tactically.