It was the final day of Wimbledon 2018, and the Men’s Singles Final featured Novak Djokovic (12) and Kevin Anderson (8).
Anderson served first and began by winning the first point with Djokovic hitting long. A volley winner from Anderson and 30-15. Break point after a loose Anderson forehand. Double fault and break of serve. 1-0 Djokovic.
Anderson forced an error and 15-15. An errant Anderson forehand 30-15. Djokovic held for 2-0.
Service winner from Anderson 15-0. Backhand Djokovic miss 30-0. Service winners and a love game Djokovic 2-1.
Djokovic service winner 30-0. Another for 40-0. Serve held 3-1.
A wild forehand miss and Anderson trailed 0-30. Ace 15-30. Two break points after Anderson netted. The break after a dipping Djokovic backhand produced an error at the net. Djokovic 4-1.
Volley winner from Djokovic 30-0. Game for 5-1. Anderson, with two winners, 30-15. Two game points with Djokovic forehand way wide. Ace and Anderson held for 2-5.
Djokovic smash winner and 15-0. 15-15 following netted Djokovic shot. Two set points following Anderson finding the net. Anderson flew a forehand out of court and Djokovic took the set 6-2,
Anderson had called for treatment on his elbow.
Only a single unforced error for Djokovic in the set. Anderson needed to improve his first serve percentage.
In the opening game of set two the first two points were shared. 15-30 after a brilliant Djokovic return caused a mishit. A backhand mistake and two break points. Break arrived and Djokovic led 1-0.
Double fault Djokovic 0-15. South African errors and 30-15. Two game points. Service hold and Djokovic 2-0.
Anderson ace 15-0. Service winner 30-0. Three game points. One wasted with giant mishit. A second one wasted the same way. Deuce. Djokovic backhand missed and advantage Anderson. Double fault and deuce. Game point following Djokovic unforced error. Service held and Djokovic led 2-1.
Djokovic forced into error 0-15. Ace 15-15. Ace for 40-15. Wide serve drew the errant return 3-1 Djokovic.
Forehand Anderson winner 15-0. Netted shot by Anderson and then a missed backhand from the same racquet. 15-30. Double fault and two break points. Wide shot and another break Djokovic 4-1.
Djokovic missed a forehand 0-15. The longest rally of the match ended with Anderson finding the net. 15-15. Ace and forehand winner from Djokovic. 40-15. Deuce after Anderson forehand winner. Game point after Anderson hit the net again. Djokovic missed an easy backhand and it was deuce. A forehand miss from Anderson and game point. A winning Djokovic forehand and he led 5-1.
Djokovic missed his backhand and Anderson 15-0. Djokovic was twice forced into error on his forehand 40-0. Serve held with an Anderson forehand winner. Djokovic would serve for the set at 5-2.
Anderson missed two forehands and Djokovic had 30-0. A drop shot from Anderson was too much for Djokovic 30-15. Anderson backhand winner 30-30. Break point after Djokovic forced into error. Saved. Backhand down the line winner from Djokovic and set point. That was enough to clinch it 6-2 and lead by two sets.
Anderson began the third set winning the first point. 30-15 after Djokovic hit long. 40-15 following a wide Djokovic attempt.
A service winner and Anderson led 1-0.
30-0 Djokovic following Anderson errors. Game to Djokovic 1-1
Three forced backhand errors, two from Djokovic, and Anderson led 30-15. Anderson held after forcing Djokovic into forehand error twice. He led 2-1.
A service winner from Djokovic and 40-0. An ace and 2-2.
A netted forehand from Anderson 0-15. Anderson smash winner at the net 15-15. Ace 30-15. Djokovic netted and two game points. One wasted with a failed serve volley effort. An excellent forehand drew an error and Anderson held for a 3-2 lead.
Backhand winner from Djokovic 30-0. Three game points after Anderson hit the net, and a love game was completed with a Djokovic forehand winner 3-3.
Anderson ace 15-0. Another for 40-0. Anderson missed a backhand 40-15. Ace for a 4-3 lead.
An Anderson return forehand winner 0-15. Ace 15-15. Anderson winning forehand 30-30. Lucky net cord and break point. Backhand from Anderson missed and deuce. Djokovic volley winner and game point. Service held 4-4.
Anderson service winner 15-0. Double fault 15-15. Ace 30-15. Another and 40-15. Backhand volley winner and Anderson held for 5-4.
Djokovic double fault 15-15. Djokovic netted 30-30. Double fault and set point. Saved with a volley put away.
Double fault and a second set point. Great angled forehand saved this one. Anderson missed wide and game point. Service held and 5-5.
Anderson ace 15-0. Two forced Djokovic errors 40-0. Game to Anderson who led 6-5.
Djokovic missed and 0-15. Anderson backhand winner 0-30. Service winner 15-30. Two set points after a Djokovic miss. One saved. And the second with a winning forehand. Another set point with Djokovic error. Saved with Anderson forehand mistake. Game point. Deuce again. Backhand Djokovic winner. Ace and Djokovic took it to a tie break.
Anderson forehand winner 1-0. Djokovic forced an error 1-1. 2-1 Djokovic after unforced Anderson error. Djokovic forehand winner 3-1. Anderson hit it long 4-1 Djokovic. Forced Anderson error 5-1. Missed backhand from Djokovic but he led 5-2. Anderson netted and 6-2 Djokovic. Four match points. One saved with a smash winner. Djokovic did it, forcing the error to win 6-2 6-2 7-6(3).
Thirteen Grand Slam titles to Novak Djokovic and a fourth Wimbledon crown.
Kevin Anderson should be proud of his performance this Wimbledon, although obviously disappointed at not winning the title. His five sets wins over Federer and Isner, both coming from behind, were terrific, and he just met Djokovic at his best, returning serve as no other can. Anderson did came alive in the third set and scared Djokovic at times.
However, the Djoker is officially back at the top of world tennis, sharing the mantle with Federer and Nadal - each has a major to their credit this year and the trio will be favoured to fight for the US Open ahead of the New Generation which still appears to be finding a way to reach the level achieved by the legendary three.
Novak Djokovic is climbing back through the rankings, up from 21 to 10, and with no points left to defend this year, he should end up close to where he belongs.
Kevin Anderson has moved up three spots to a new career high of five, previously seven.
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