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Novak Djokovic Wins His Fourth Wimbledon Title By Beating Kevin Anderson

Novak Djokovic Wins His Fourth Wimbledon Title By Beating Kevin Anderson

The Serbian clinched his thirteenth Grand Slam title, over two years since his previous one, by beating Kevin Anderson.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

There's been a feeling that no one has really cared about Wimbledon as the World Cup has been going on and Novak Djokovic seemed to prove that theory as he rushed through the men's final against Kevin Anderson to become a four time winner.

Novak Djokovic won his fourth Wimbledon by defeating Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 after both men had been through brutal semi-finals.

Wimbledon is usually one of the saviours of the summer with no football to take our minds off normal life but this year it's been fighting a losing battle against the World Cup, especially in England as Gareth Southgate's side reached the semi-final.

But on Friday night, with no football being played, the tournament was at its gripping best and in truth it's where the men's final today was actually won.

The semi final between John Isner and Kevin Anderson lasted six hours and 35 minutes, the longest ever Wimbledon semi, with Anderson winning the fifth set 26-24 in a match that also included three tie breaks.

Isner embraces Anderson after their epic match. Image: PA Images
Isner embraces Anderson after their epic match. Image: PA Images

That meant that Djokovic couldn't even finish his semi final against Rafael Nadal on the day and he had to come back on Saturday to beat the Spaniard.

On Friday they played the first three sets with the 12 time Grand Slam winner leading 2-1 after an epic tie break in the third set.

They returned on Saturday before the women's final with Nadal winning the fourth and taking it to a decided that Djokovic won 10-8, meaning they'd played their own five hour and 16 minute match.

Djokovic walks off at the end of play on Friday with the match still in the balance. Image: PA Images
Djokovic walks off at the end of play on Friday with the match still in the balance. Image: PA Images

Djokovic would have always been expected to win a final against Anderson, especially with the Nadal match proving that he was back to his best, but the ridiculous amount of time spent on the court for the South African made it even more likelier.

Two years the 13 time Grand Slam winner could only reach the third round of Wimbledon and, despite reaching the US Open final two months later, suffered with injury and fitness for nearly two years.

He reached the quarter final of the French Open last month as his form seemed to be returning and at SW19 over the previous fortnight he has looked back to his best, beating Kei Nishikori, Kyle Edmund and Nadal on the way to the final.

Anderson was playing just his second Grand Slam final having lost to Roger Federer at the US Open last September and did extremely well to make the final of Wimbledon.

After his epic semi he struggled early on as Djokovic flew through the first two sets 6-2 but the 6"9 South African really came into his own in the third set and had five set points at 6-5 on the Djokovic serve.

But the Serb powered through the tie break winning 7-3 to make him to fourth on the all time list of Grand Slam winners.

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Topics: Rafael Nadal, Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic