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The coach of the Wimbledon champ says that it's no use to have a gameplan for facing Kyrgios – not even the Aussie knows what he'll do next.By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday, July 10, 2022

Goran Ivanisevic tells reporters that it was a fruitless endeavor to draw up a gameplan for Nick Kyrgios. Simply put, the Aussie is just too unpredictable.

Whether or not the Croatian’s words are true – he could be using some poetic license to avoid giving away of Djokovic’s tried-and-true tactics – they were still interesting words to hear the former Wimbledon champ. He tossed ample praise in the Aussie’s direction after Djokovic topped Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3) in three hours and one minute on Sunday.

“You cannot prepare a match against Nick Kyrgios,” he said. “Nick Kyrgios is a genius, tennis genius.

Ivanisevic says part of the problem about preparing for Nick is the Aussie’s spontaneity.

“He doesn't know what he's going to play next in the point,” the 2001 Wimbledon singles champion said. “We just concentrate what Novak has to do, the things he has to do, the things he has to be careful [of].

“When somebody [is] serving like Nick Kyrgios – for me is the best server in the game by far – it's impossible to make tactics.

Ivanisevic was impressed with how Kyrgios was able to defuse Djokovic – considered the best returner in the world, by many – for long spells of the match.

“15 minutes, best returner in the world, he does not touch his serve,” Ivanisevic said, adding that Djokovic had to be opportunistic to prevail in the contest.

“You get the chance, then he breaks him.”

Ivanisevic said that he and Djokovic stressed the importance of staying the course, and being ready to capitalize when Kyrgios’ level dropped.

“That is what we saw happen in the critical ninth game of the third set. Kyrgios led 40-0 after banging two aces and a service winner to start. But he missed first serves and volleys on each of the next two points. Then, at 40-30, Djokovic pounced, smacking a handy forehand return that put Kyrgios on the back foot. It led to a forehand down-the-line winner by the Serb on the next shot.

From deuce, things unravelled quickly: a double-fault by Kyrgios and a backhand error on break point. 5-4, Djokovic, just like that.

You could feel that Djokovic was perpetually ready for moments like these on Sunday. He had to be, and he knew it. The way Kyrgios was serving, it was the only way through.

“Key point was to concentrate on what Novak has to do, and just to stick to those little things,” said Ivanisevic. “To be ready for the big serves, for the big second serve winners.

“But also he knew on this stage, when Nick starts to talk, he's going to be vulnerable. You know, that happened. Happened in the third set when Nick was 40-Love up… 4-All, suddenly Novak broke him and he was talking to his box – that's Nick.

“You need to take every chance you get because you don't have too many chances.”

The Serb is in danger of missing 2022's final Grand Slam due to his decision not to get vaccinated. By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday, July 10, 2022

Novak Djokovic has successfully closed the gap on Rafael Nadal in the all-time men’s singles Grand Slam titles race to one, but the Serb may not have another chance to get back on equal footing with Nadal in 2022.

After defeating Nick Kyrgios, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3) in Sunday’s men’s singles final, the Serb reconfirmed his status with regard to vaccination.

“I'm not vaccinated and I'm not planning to get vaccinated so the only good news I can have is them removing the vaccine card to enter United States,” Djokovic said. “I don't know. I don't think exemption is realistically possible. If that is possibility, I don't know what exemption would be about. I don't know. I don't have much answers there.

The 21-time major champion still holds out hope that the United States government will change its regulations regarding mandatory vaccination for foreign travellers.

“I think it's just whether or not they remove this in time for me to get to USA,” he said. “I'll wait hopefully for some good news from USA because I would really love to go there.

“That would be probably the next big tournament, the next big swing, playing a tournament or two before US Open and US Open. If that doesn't happen, then I have to see what the schedule will look like.”