Novak Djokovic has won his first Grand Slam title since the 2016 French Open on Sunday. Djokovic picked up his fourth Wimbledon singles title with a dominant victory over Kevin Anderson in the final.
This is a big deal for Djokovic, who has been in a general slump since that win in France. He’s a player who, when he isn’t winning, he completely loses himself. But it was all him on Sunday, besting Anderson in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(3).
The big story for both players going into the match was just how much time they spent on the court in their previous two matches, but Anderson had the worst of it, with lengthy fifth sets against Roger Federer and John Isner combining with general wear and tear to make for a player that simply looked tired from the onset.
Djokovic, one of the best returners in the game, handled Anderson, one of the best servers in the game, and frequently kept him on his back foot while covering the entire court.
The first set saw Anderson struggle to keep up with Djokovic’s incredible returning ability, and he was working with his trainer on his elbow fairly early on in the match. Djokovic broke Anderson to start the match, and was quickly up by two breaks before taking the first set at 6-2.
In the second, it was more of the same and wound up ending with the same score as the first. Djokovic broke when he needed to, and Anderson couldn’t convert on his lone break point attempt, giving Djokovic a two-set lead.
The third was a lot different in that Anderson found some rhythm on his serve and Djokovic started to struggle getting his returns in. Anderson rode multiple aces to hold throughout the set, and it went to a tiebreak, where Djokovic took back over and sealed the victory.
Going into the final, Djokovic, the 12th seed, had a run through Wimbledon that included wins over Tennys Sandgren, Horacio Zeballos, Kyle Edmund, Karen Khachanov, Kei Nishikori and Rafael Nadal. Anderson, the eighth seed, bested Norbert Gombos, Andreas Seppi, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Gael Monfils, Roger Federer and John Isner, all in that order.
Federer and Nadal were the favorites, but the former fell in the quarterfinals and the latter didn’t make it past the semifinals. Many were hoping for a repeat of the legendary Federer-Nadal 2008 Wimbledon final, a decade later, but the final four was made up of three power players who were all finding success on the grass courts.
Below, you can see the live blog from Sunday’s final in reverse order.
Third Set (Djokovic 2-0), Game 13 (Tiebreak): Djokovic 7, Anderson 6
Anderson nails a great cross-court forehand winner to hold the first serve of the tiebreak. Then it’s 1-1 when Djokovic does something very similar. Anderson with an unforced error, and it’s 2-1 Djokovic. Anderson serve is good, but Djokovic handles it, and goes up with a forehand winner. Anderson has a backhand volley go too far and Djokovic goes up 4-1. Serving now, Djokovic forces another error for a 5-1 lead. An unforced error on the backhand from Djokovic gets it to 5-2. Forced error from Anderson, then a smash winner for Anderson and it’s 6-3. Championship point No. 2 for Djokovic, who is serving. He gets it! Djokovic has won the tiebreak and by extension, the championship!
Third Set (Djokovic 2-0), Game 12: Anderson 6, Djokovic 6
A couple errors from Djokovic and, suddenly, Anderson has a double set point attempt! The first is saved with a strong serve that Anderson hits into the net. Djokovic sends him stumbling with a brutal forehand winner to get to deuce. A longer rally leads to a Djokovic forced error, and Anderson has set point No. 5. A big serve from Djokovic and Anderson hits it long. Advantage Djokovic after a forced error, but deuce again after another Anderson point. Anderson gets too aggressive on the next point, and comes to the net anticipating a straight shot, but Djokovic sneaks it past him down the other line. Then Djokovic wins the game with an ace, sending it to a tiebreak.
Third Set (Djokovic 2-0), Game 11: Anderson 6, Djokovic 5
Ace for Anderson to start, and then three more hard serves that Djokovic can’t get ahead of later, it’s an easy hold for Anderson.
Third Set (Djokovic 2-0), Game 10: Anderson 5, Djokovic 5
Djokovic with a double fault of his own, but he’s out to a 30-15 lead after two strong serves result in net balls for Anderson. Then it’s 30-all when Anderson forces a backhand error. A double fault from Djokovic, and Anderson has a set point attempt! He doesn’t get it, with Djokovic hitting a huge forehand, followed by a slick volley. Advantage Anderson after Djokovic has another double fault. But it’s back to deuce after another hard Djokovic serve. Anderson rips a forehand down the line and it’s just wide. He challenges, but loses it. Advantage Djokovic. Djokovic holds with an Anderson forced error!
Third Set (Djokovic 2-0), Game 9: Anderson 5, Djokovic 4
Hard serve from Anderson, and Djokovic can’t handle it. But it’s tied up after he double faults. Then an ace from Anderson to go up 30-15. Then another one. A beautiful backhand volley winner from Anderson allows him to hold again.
Third Set (Djokovic 2-0), Game 8: Anderson 4, Djokovic 4
Quick, hard return from Anderson on Djokovic’s serve gives him a quick lead. Djokovic responds with an ace. Then Anderson hits a forehand into the net, before hitting a forehand winner right on the line. It was called out, but he won a challenge. He then hits a backhand winner, and has a break point attempt, but Djokovic responds and gets the advantage with a slick volley. Djokovic holds with a heavy serve that Anderson returns into the net.
Third Set (Djokovic 2-0), Game 7: Anderson 4, Djokovic 3
After a quick ace, Anderson wins a 17-shot rally, the longest of the match. Then he serves up another ace on his second serve. He loses the next point when he sends a backhand long, but another ace gives him another hold!
Third Set (Djokovic 2-0), Game 6: Anderson 3, Djokovic 3
Another very quick hold for Djokovic, who is simply moving much better than Anderson, who is nearly stationary by comparison. He hit two winners while Anderson had a pair of errors, one forced, giving Djokovic the game.
Third Set (Djokovic 2-0), Game 5: Anderson 3, Djokovic 2
Anderson drops the first point on his next serve, but goes up 40-15 with the help of an ace and a smash. Djokovic notches another point when Anderson commits a forehand volley into the net. Anderson gets Djokovic scrambling across the court two times, and the second time, Djokovic can’t make it, losing the game with a forehand forced error that went wide.
Third Set (Djokovic 2-0), Game 4: Anderson 2, Djokovic 2
Bad return from Anderson on Djokovic’s next service game, then a couple of big serves ends with an ace for an easy hold for the Serb.
Third Set (Djokovic 2-0), Game 3: Anderson 2, Djokovic 1
Three backhand forced errors, and Anderson has a 30-15 lead in the game. A long rally ends with Djokovic hitting a forehand forced error, and Anderson holds again.
Third Set (Djokovic 2-0), Game 2: Anderson 1, Djokovic 1
If you blinked, you missed this game — Djokovic easily held serve without giving up apoint, with only one Anderson unforced error thrown in.
Third Set (Djokovic 2-0), Game 1: Anderson 1, Djokovic 0
Anderson serving to start to the third. He gets a quick point with a forced error, but it’s tied up after a double fault. Two strong serves and bad returns later, and Anderson is up 40-15. He finishes it with an ace to hold serve.
Second Set (Djokovic 1-0), Game 8: Djokovic 6, Anderson 2
Anderson goes down 30-0 after two errors, but Anderson fights back with a beautiful backhand, and Djokovic hits a forehand wide, giving Anderson a break point opportunity. A 15-shot rally ends with a Djokovic point, which sends it to deuce. Advantage Djokovic after a blistering backhand winner. And then a backhand forced error from Anderson has Djokovic up by two sets.
Second Set (Djokovic 1-0), Game 7: Djokovic 5, Anderson 2
Anderson trying to stay alive here. Djokovic with an unforced error, then two winners from Anderson and he’s up to a quick 40-0 on this service. A big rally ends with Djokovic forcing Anderson to send one long. Anderson, though, hits a nice forehand to hold.
Second Set (Djokovic 1-0), Game 6: Djokovic 5, Anderson 1
Djokovic with an unforced error to start the next game. Then Anderson has one, while Djokovic hits an ace on the next point. A forehand winner for Djokovic and he’s up 40-15. But Anderson hits two quick winners and we’re at deuce. Advantage Anderson, but he loses the point with a forehand forced error. Djokovic holds with a forehand winner, and leads 5-1.
Second Set (Djokovic 1-0), Game 5: Djokovic 4, Anderson 1
Anderson with a quick winner, but he drops the next four, one of which was a double fault and two of which were unforced errors. It’s another break point for Djokovic!
Second Set (Djokovic 1-0), Game 4: Djokovic 3, Anderson 1
Forced error from Djokovic, then an ace. An Anderson error and another Djokovic ace later, and he’s at 40-15. The pace is very, very quick on this one. Another hard serve from Djokvic and Anderson can’t keep up.
Second Set (Djokovic 1-0), Game 3: Djokovic 2, Anderson 1
Anderson hits an ace, and then quickly goes up 30-0 with a Djokovic backhand forced error. A forehand unforced error has Anderson up 40-0. He drops a point after a forehand unforced error. Then another, and another and we’re at deuce. Anderson’s serve just isn’t pushing Djokovic back nearly as far as he needs to. Advantage Anderson after after Djokovic sends a backhand wide. Back to deuce after a double fault. Anderson has a ball drop out of his pocket during a point. Advantage Anderson after a 15-shot rally ends with a forehand into the net. Strong volley from Anderson that Djokovic can’t get to, and he holds serve.
Second Set (Djokovic 1-0), Game 2: Djokovic 2, Anderson 0
Double fault from Djokovic to start, but he quickly ties it with a strong serve. A minute later, he goes up after an unforced error from Anderson. Then another quick two points and Djokovic holds.
Second Set (Djokovic 1-0), Game 1: Djokovic 1, Anderson 0
Anderson serving first, and he quickly goes up after a strong serve. But a backhand unforced error from Anderson ties it at 15-15. Then it’s two more unforced errors for Anderson, and Djokovic has another break attempt. He quickly gets it, forcing a backhand error on Anderson.
First Set, Game 8: Djokovic 6, Anderson 2
A hard smash from Djokovic gives him the quick lead. Anderson ties it with a hard return that Djokovic sends into the net. Backhand forced error from Anderson, and then an unforced one, giving Djokovic a double set point attempt. He gets it in one!
First Set, Game 7: Djokovic 5, Anderson 2
A hard serve and a beautiful cross-court follow-up has Anderson up on his next serve. He can’t make it to the next one when Djokovic hits a beautiful forehand. Two more strong serves, and Anderson has a quick hold, but Djokovic is serving for the first set next.
First Set, Game 6: Djokovic 5, Anderson 1
Strong serve from Djokovic to start the game. He hits a great forehand volley to go up 30-0. Another hard serve leads to a 40-0. And yet another one sees Anderson hit the return into the net, and Djokovic is cruising here.
First Set, Game 5: Djokovic 4, Anderson 1
Anderson is quickly down two points after a pair of forehand unforced errors. The second was a longer rally, one that Anderson was clearly controlling before the bad shot. Anderson gets an ace on his second serve for the next point! A 12-shot rally, the longest thus far, ends with another unforced error from Anderson, and Djokovic has a double break attempt. Anderson has a huge, huge serve, but Djokovic returns it beautifully and controls the point to a win, giving him a double break lead!
First Set, Game 4: Djokovic 3, Anderson 1
Djokovic serving now, and he’s bringing the heat, too. Anderson has three quick forced errors on his forehand, then hits a backhand winner to stay alive in the game. Djokovic walks the sideline perfectly on the next point though, and Anderson can’t keep up.
First Set, Game 3: Djokovic 2, Anderson 1
Djokovic can’t handle Anderson’s first serve, hitting a backhand into the net, which he does again. Then it’s an ace for Anderson, and finally, another quick one that Djokovic hits into the net. A very, very quick service game for Anderson.
First Set, Game 2: Djokovic 2, Anderson 0
An unforced error from Anderson gives Djokovic the quick lead on the set, but responds by tying it on the next rally. Then it’s Anderson with an unforced error on the forehand, a quick Djokovic point and another unforced error on Anderson, giving Djokovic the 2-0 lead.
First Set, Game 1: Djokovic 1, Anderson 0
Anderson holds on an 11-shot rally to start this match following a service fault. He has another on the next point, where Djokovic manages a quick point. Anderson with a backhand volley winner to go up 30-15. Another fault on the first serve, and Djokovic keeps it tied. Then a huge serve is turned into another fast point for Djokovic, who has a break point attempt. And it’s a double fault for Anderson, giving Djokovic the break!
Novak Djokovic and Kevin Anderson are the final two vying for the 2018 Wimbledon men’s singles title. The tournament started with all the big names, sans Andy Murray, and that includes Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Alexander Zverev and more.
Anderson, the eighth seed, made it past American John Isner in the semifinals. That match lated over six hours and included a 26-24 final set in favor of Anderson. Prior to that, Anderson picked up the even more impressive win by beating Federer, the top seed, also in five sets with an extended fifth set. That match lasted just over four hours.
So there’s bound to be a lot of wear on Anderson’s body, but the same can be said for Djokovic, who himself had a five-hour match against Rafael Nadal, the second seed, in the semifinals. Djokovic, the 12th seed, took down Nadal, 6-34, 3-6, 7-6(9), 3-6, 10-8. Prior to that, he bested No. 24 Kei Nishikori in the quarterfinals.
We should have two very tired but very motivated players on Sunday. We’ll have a live blog of the action, game-by-game, with the most recent living at the top of this article, so keep refreshing that page. We’ll get started once the players have warmed up.