Gulf in talent as Djokovic squeezes life from contest
Norrie gives Novak a fright but more than meets his match as dream dies
THeRe was a moment midway through the second set when Novak Djokovic had something of an epiphany. Firstly, he remembered he was Novak Djokovic. Then, he recalled his opponent was Cameron Norrie. After that, the match was only going in one direction.
This is no poor reflection on Norrie. He did his absolute best, took Djokovic and most of those watching by surprise with a 6-2 win in the first set including three breaks of serve.
At one point Norrie’s own serve hit 127 mph too, which was equally unusual. A full, patriotic, noisy Centre Court baking in the sun, anything seemed possible.
Yet champions do not forget they are champions for long. earlier in the tournament, Djokovic said he splashed water on his face and had a little pep talk to the man in the mirror to get him going against Italy’s Jannik Sinner.
He had a toilet break here, too, but he probably only needed a gentle reminder. You’re Novak Djokovic. He’s not. There’s a pretty definite end to this.
And there was. By the end, Norrie had shifted from potential finalist into the plucky Brit zone that so delights Centre Court audiences. He was 2-1 down on sets, a break down on games, and the denouement was looming.
Yet as he saved four break points so the cheers grew louder and louder. They liked him even more for this than for completely outplaying Djokovic in the first set.
It explains why this country’s greatest explorer is Captain Scott, who didn’t just get to the South Pole second, but never came back. We’re far more comfortable with gallant defeat than winning. If we ever got a Djokovic, we wouldn’t know what to do with him.
So this is what Norrie was up against. By winning yesterday, Djokovic reached a 32nd Grand Slam final, an eighth Wimbledon final, won his 27th consecutive match at Wimbledon and his 333rd at a Grand Slam.
If he beats Nick Kyrgios tomorrow it will be his 21st Grand Slam title, one behind Rafa Nadal, and his fourth consecutive Wimbledon, a feat only achieved by three other players in the modern era.
And he last lost on Centre Court in the 2013 final to Andy Murray. Meaning, yes, it was always a tall order for Norrie who has never gone this deep in a Slam and had played some of his best tennis just to get this far.
The fright he gave Djokovic in the first set should serve as future inspiration. He may not win a Slam off Djokovic, short term, but beyond, who knows? It still took just the odd break to decide sets two and four.
Yet Djokovic was simply better. He changed into a white cap between sets one and two, and changed his luck with it. Asked about it after he deadpanned that it is not quite that simple, winning tennis matches, but the mistake that changed the match was.
Until the eighth game of the second set the play had gone with serve. Norrie was under the pump, saving a break point on his second service game and two more on his third, but with Djokovic leading 4-3 and the game tied 15-15 on Norrie’s serve, there was the chance of an easy volley. Norrie stuck it into the net, the most unforced of unforced errors. And right there was the turning point. Djokovic got the break and never looked back.
Norrie was never properly ahead in any set after that. Djokovic served out the second and broke the British No 1 in the first games of sets three and four. He was always in command, always striding towards his eighth Wimbledon final in the last 11 editions.
Great champions are like that. They can sniff the wind and sense change. Djokovic knew he was in charge the moment Norrie missed that volley.
‘ He gifted me the set,’ he admitted later and by the start of the third set there was another of those tells that indicate which way the match is heading.
Norrie made fantastic ground to pass Djokovic down the line, and the champion applauded his shot. A nice gesture, certainly, but not one that speaks of uncertainty.
Norrie at no time applauded Djokovic because he was too focused on how on earth he might beat him. Yet Djokovic was by then comfortable enough to give his opponent a metaphorical ruffle of the hair. Well done, son. Lovely shot. Not that it’s going to make much difference, but well played anyway. Now, where was I?
Norrie was forced to save two break points before Djokovic broke him in that game. He broke him again, a little later, and at one stage led the set 5-1. A wild smash by Norrie showed the pressure he was under, Djokovic squeezing all life from the contest.
At one stage, in the fourth set, Norrie trailed 40-0 on Djokovic’s serve and a mouth on Centre Court shouted, ‘ That’s the right attitude, Cam.’ Look, there was nothing wrong with Norrie’s attitude but there was a gulf in talent that was impossible to ignore.
Still, as Djokovic tried to close out the fourth set and the match so the cat calls became quite embarrassing. They were trying to put him off and on match point one of the cries was timed for the top of his service arc.
Point and match won, Djokovic directed his initial celebration pointedly to the area of seating housing the tormenting voices. There was some childish booing by way of response. What for? The best man won.
Watching him move seamlessly through the gears gave some idea of what Kyrgios must overcome tomorrow. They have only played twice, never on grass, both in 2017 and Kyrgios won both times. The history books suggest this may be a different contest.
Kyrgios, like Norrie, said Djokovic, will have nothing to lose. So do a lot of people when they play him. Doesn’t mean they don’t lose, though.