Fansided

Novak Djokovic wins 13th Grand Slam in tennis comeback of the year

By Veronica Elizabeth Bruno

Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates a game against South Africa's Kevin Anderson in their men's singles final match on the thirteenth day of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 15, 2018. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates a game against South Africa's Kevin Anderson in their men's singles final match on the thirteenth day of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 15, 2018. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Novak Djokovic is back on top, winning his fourth Wimbledon title in dominant fashion over Kevin Anderson, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(2).

Novak Djokovic is the comeback kid. He wins his 13th Grand Slam and signals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal that their comfortable resurgence is over and he’s back in the mix.

It’s been two years since Djokovic has appeared in a Slam final, having won the 2016 French Open to cement his Career Slam, and having been defeated by that other Swiss, Stan Wawrinka, at the 2016 U.S. Open. But since then, he had to sit out on the sidelines, taking time off to nurse an elbow injury, then having baby number two, and having to deal with several false starts trying to come back since last year. He underwent minor surgery earlier this year and humbly took his lumps while he made several attempts to progress all year long while listening to continuous criticism about his comeback efforts.

But surge ahead he did. The Serb started hitting his stride during the spring clay season, with a major breakthrough at the Rome semis, where he hit a wall called Rafael Nadal on his favorite surface.

But then Wimbledon happened, and first Roger Federer went out in the quarters after having match point, with his ouster Kevin Anderson making it to the finals. All the while Djokovic was surging ahead through the draw, to everyone’s surprise. But he had one more tough opponent to get through, Nadal. Again. But this time on grass, it was the 13-time Slam champion’s turn to claim his spot into the finals.

This is the first Grand Slam where Djokovic has won as a dad. His son, Stefan, wasn’t allowed to watch the match — you have to be at least five according to the rules — but officials of course made an exception for the winner, with his adorable son looking on during the winner’s speech.

“It feels amazing because for the first time in my life I have someone screaming ‘daddy, daddy’ and it’s a little boy right there. He’s under five years old, so he couldn’t watch the matches live but we hoped if I lifted the trophy he could be there,” said Djokovic post-match. “I’m very emotional and happy for my wife and my whole team. He was by far the best sparring partner I had in the last couple of weeks.”

He also practiced with his son prior to the match. He told Tom Rinaldi in his post-match interview that his son being able to witness him was “one of the biggest motivators” for him to return to the Tour.

The grass tasted sweeter this time around. Like last time, Nole ate the Wimbledon grass after his win.

“I had a double portion of it this year,” he joked in his on-court interview.

Like Federer and Nadal winning in their 30s, you could tell that the win at age 31, after a draught of Slams, injury and reflection, has much greater meaning. Humbled and coming back to the game on top, Djokovic has confirmed his status.

“We all have ups and downs. That’s life,” he said to Rinaldi.

The Big Three are back. Roger’s won the Australian Open. Rafa’s won Roland Garros. And now Djokovic is the Wimbledon champ. Does someone need to write Andy Murray to hurry up and get into shape for the U.S. Open?

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