Kyrgios and Bublik Reveal How Djokovic’s Exceptional Skills Left Them Astonished
Nick Kyrgios and Alexander Bublik have shared their admiration and frustration over Novak Djokovic’s exceptional abilities, particularly his remarkable returns and uncanny ability to read opponents’ serves. Both players have reflected candidly on the challenges they faced against Djokovic, describing his skills as “crazy” and “insane.”
In 2022, Kyrgios reached his first Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon, an achievement that set the stage for a high-profile match against Djokovic, who was pursuing his seventh title at the Championships. Kyrgios, known for his powerful serves and aggressive play, came out strong, taking the opening set and maintaining a high level of play throughout the match. However, despite his impressive performance, Kyrgios couldn’t secure another set as Djokovic completed a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3) victory.
Kyrgios served an impressive 30 aces and landed 73 percent of his first serves, yet Djokovic managed to break through and capitalize on key moments, converting two out of four break points. Reflecting on the match, Kyrgios expressed his frustration, stating, “I served 75 percent of first serves, and Novak broke me three times.” His performance was widely praised, with some suggesting that if Djokovic had been replaced by any other player, Kyrgios might have secured the win.
“It’s just I couldn’t serve any better…” Kyrgios remarked, highlighting the difficulty of facing an opponent who could consistently counter his best efforts. Despite his strong showing, Djokovic’s ability to neutralize Kyrgios’s powerful serves proved decisive.
Bublik, ranked 26th in the world, also shared his perspective on facing Djokovic, having played him only once in a Davis Cup match in 2021. Bublik lost 3-6, 4-6 to Djokovic, but the encounter was enough to leave a lasting impression on the Kazakh player. “The problem with Novak, I played him only once, but I was watching a lot of his matches. Every time there is a break point, or something close to it, he plays… You just can’t ace him. He knows where you serve,” Bublik explained.
Bublik described Djokovic’s returning ability as “insane,” emphasizing how Djokovic’s anticipation and positioning make it nearly impossible to execute a successful serve. “I served down the T’s the best serve slice, and then it’s not he’s only there… It’s just insane. His practice was insane. Like every time, if there is a point he hits there,” Bublik added. His description underscored the difficulty of facing Djokovic, who seems to be in position to return every serve with remarkable precision.
Kyrgios, listening to Bublik’s commentary, interrupted to agree with the points being made, underscoring their shared experience of facing Djokovic’s formidable skills. “I mean the final, I don’t think I could have done much more, like… I played pretty solid. I played a bad tie-break in the fourth set. I mean, got broken up at four all in the third set at 40-love. It’s ridiculous,” Kyrgios said, reflecting on the 2022 Wimbledon final.
Kyrgios admitted that the experience was mentally challenging, and he questioned whether a different opponent might have yielded a different outcome. “Something has gone wrong in my head, not tennis-wise, in my head. That was tough. I think if I played like Rafa or something in the final, I would have been fine, I think,” Kyrgios mused.
Coach Patrick Mouratoglou then probed whether the experience motivated Kyrgios to work harder. Kyrgios, with a laugh, admitted to being emotionally affected by the loss but noted that it did fuel his determination. “No, I was crying (laughs),” Kyrgios said before adding, “Yeah, I got motivated, I don’t know…”
Mouratoglou clarified his question, asking if Kyrgios felt capable of winning a Grand Slam in the future. Kyrgios acknowledged the challenge posed by Djokovic, saying, “Yeah, it was right there, yeah. But like, he is, he is different though… He had what? 30 finals like… And that was my first. So experience, he was never fazed at all. He is so good,” Kyrgios concluded.
@NickKyrgios and @BublikAlexander on what it is like to face @DjokerNole in TIGHT situations 😬🐐#tennis #nickkyrgios #alexanderbublik #tennislove #uts #utstour pic.twitter.com/AQToRik31F
— UTS Tour (@uts_tour_) August 13, 2024
The 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon editions were missed by Kyrgios due to knee and wrist surgeries, respectively. Despite these setbacks, he has recently indicated that he is making significant progress in his recovery and is expected to return to action soon. His reflections on his encounters with Djokovic reveal the immense respect he holds for the Serbian champion and the challenges of facing one of tennis’s greatest players.
Both Kyrgios and Bublik’s insights into Djokovic’s game provide a glimpse into the difficulties of playing against one of the sport’s most dominant figures. Djokovic’s ability to neutralize powerful serves and his exceptional reading of opponents’ plays underscore why he remains a formidable presence on the court. For players like Kyrgios and Bublik, facing Djokovic is not just a test of skill but also a lesson in the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines his career.
