Kyrgios vows to give Djokovic his ‘best shot’

LONDON (AFP) – Nick Kyrgios can become one of Wimbledon’s most controversial champions on Sunday when he faces Novak Djokovic in a final set to showcase flamboyant shotmaking punctuated by likely dark mood swings.

The maverick Australian crowd-pleaser is in his first Slam final at the age of 27 after a roller-coaster career.

There have been tempestuous outbursts, spats with players, officials and media and fines that he has previously estimated have cost him $500,000.

When Rafael Nadal’s injury-enforced withdrawal gave him a free passage into Sunday’s final, the Daily Telegraph asked if it represented “Wimbledon’s worst nightmare.”

Kyrgios has been box office on and off the court at the All England Club.

In a campaign of all-out attack, he has fired a tournament-leading 120 aces, 292 winners, the secondfastest serve of 137 miles per hour (220 kilometers per hour) while being broken only six times.

But he has picked up a further $14,000 in fines, spat in the direction of fans and was accused of having an “evil side” and being a “bully” by Stefanos Tsitsipas.

“I never thought I’d be here at all, to be brutally honest with you,” said the 27-year-old.

Kyrgios said that, win or lose on Sunday, he has already put his many detractors in their place.

“Since I was born, only eight people have ever won this title, like eight people. I’m just going to give it my best shot,” he said.

Djokovic hit top form after a sluggish start against Britain’s Cameron Norrie on Friday, reaching an eighth Wimbledon final. He targets a 21st Grand Slam singles title Sunday.

The Serbian top seed was uncharacteristically offcolor in the first set but roared back to win, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, playing near-flawless tennis.

It will be a record 32nd Grand Slam final in the men’s game for the six-time Wimbledon champion.