The Serb only has Wimbledon this year to stay in the wake of Rafael Nadal in the hunt for Grand Slam titles.

He was unable to defend his title at the Australian Open, then was beaten in June at Roland-Garros and risks not being able to go to the United States for the last Major of the year, being against covid vaccination.

After two successes in 2022, in Melbourne and Paris, Nadal now has 22 Majors and therefore two steps ahead of the 35-year-old Serb.

Wimbledon 2022 men's final: Kyrgios vs Djokovic Vincent LEFAI AFP

"I'm well aware of what's at stake. In every game, in every Grand Slam tournament that I play at this stage of my career, the stakes are high. I don't know how many more chances I'm going to have. win a Grand Slam tournament. So I have to approach this match on Sunday with a positive attitude and with confidence, with the will to win", details the world No.3.

In the final, his eighth to aim for a seventh title at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, it is not Nadal that Djokovic will find for a long-awaited 60th duel, but Kyrgios, who benefited from the Mallorcan injury package before the semi-finals .

At the age of 27, and when he no longer dared to believe it, he finally managed to channel his nerves to let his brilliant tennis speak and reach the final of a major tournament for the first time, he who had never never exceeded the quarters in Grand Slam.

Australian Nick Kyrgios against Chilean Cristian Garin in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon, July 6, 2022 SEBASTIEN BOZON AFP

"Taking the Blows"

"In a Grand Slam, you have to ride the wave, take the hits... I beat Paul Jubb (219th in the world, editor's note) 7-5 in the fifth set in the first round and now I'm in the Wimbledon final", s he raves.

Between the two matches, he created chaos in the third round to completely destabilize Stefanos Tsitsipas, before settling down for the next two rounds and benefiting from Nadal's withdrawal in the semi-finals.

Nick Kyrgios against Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the 3rd round of Wimbledon, July 2, 2022 Glyn KIRK AFP / Archives

But he was able to see that, especially for him who is discovering these final stages of a Major, an imposed day of rest was not necessarily a good thing.

Getting out of a routine that sets in with a match every other day, "for the body, it's a shock (...) In Grand Slam, you need to play these matches to have the adrenaline. But I will have to play the final without having had the experience of the half", explains the Australian.

Perhaps more complicated for him will be to manage the pressure of the event.

Kyrgios has already admitted to having slept only one hour in the night from Thursday to Friday, after learning that he had qualified for the final.

"I was already so nervous, whereas usually I am not...", he admits.

"Great Meetings"

Nevertheless, Djokovic recalls that Kyrgios is "a player of great appointments".

"His best tennis, he always released it against the best players. That's why we all respect him, we know what he is capable of," insists the Serb.

Until then, Kyrgios has never managed to impose his game until the end of a major tournament due to his psychological cracks and erratic behavior on the court.

Novak Djokovic against Cameron Norrie in the semi-final of Wimbledon, July 8, 2022 SEBASTIEN BOZON AFP / Archives

To the point of being controversial even among its illustrious predecessors.

"I do not receive any support from any other former Australian champion. It's strange, they have an unhealthy obsession with wanting to lower me", regrets Kyrgios.

But Djokovic perceives a new "maturity" in tennis' enfant terrible, which makes him all the more dangerous as he relies on a devastating serve.

"In the end, it will be played in the head, to the one who will remain the strongest and the calmest in the decisive moments", predicts Djokovic.

In this game, with 20 Grand Slam titles including six at Wimbledon, where he has won his last 27 matches with three titles in passing, his advantage is immeasurable.

On paper.

© 2022 AFP