Djokovic defeats Anderson in straight sets to win Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic has won his fourth Wimbledon title, defeating Kevin Anderson who he admits “didn’t play his best” in the first two sets.

It is the 13th Grand Slam trophy for the former world No 1 from Serbia, and his first in more than two years after dealing with an injured right elbow that needed surgery.

Djokovic beat Anderson 6-2, 6-2, 7-6.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were in the Royal Box to attend the final, along with Prime Minister Theresa May and a host of celebrities including Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Grant.

Anderson, 32, nearly managed to extend the match – holding five set points to force a fourth.

Djokovic, who is back to his best, held steady and saved all five of those.

“It feels amazing because for the first time in my life I have someone screaming Daddy,” said Djokovic, referring to his son Stefan who watched the match from the player box.

“I can’t be happier. Today being Kevin’s first Wimbledon he didn’t play his best in the first two sets but in the third he was the better player.

“I had to really trust the process and trust in myself, the last couple of years haven’t been that easy. I had a surgery and was absent from the tour.

“I had many moments of doubt and didn’t know if I could come back to the level to compete and there’s no better place to make a comeback. This is a sacred place for tennis. The grass tasted good, I had a double portion,” he continued.

Both finalists came into the final after gruelling matches, having won the two longest semi-finals in Wimbledon history.

Anderson won a marathon semi-final lasting six hours and 36 minutes against John Isner on Friday.

Djokovic, 31, took five hours and 15 minutes to secure victory over Rafael Nadal, in a match that spanned two days and ended on Saturday.

Anderson has never won a major tournament but was aiming to become the first South African man to win at Wimbledon.

This is the 6ft 8in powerful server’s second Grand Slam final, after he was the runner-up to Nadal at last year’s US Open.

Djokovic, who was the overwhelming favourite to secure the Wimbledon title, previously thought his best days were behind him when his career took a nose-dive.

“Yes, there were moments of doubt, of frustration, disappointment, where you’re questioning whether you want to keep it going,” he said back in a Slam final for the first time since finishing runner-up at the 2016 US Open.

His troubles began during Wimbledon last year when an elbow injury forced a retirement in his quarter-final and he sat out the rest of 2017.

He was then knocked out of the Australian Open in the last 16 in January.

Djokovic is currently the lowest-ranked Wimbledon titlist since Goran Ivanisevic in 2001 at No 21.

But he shone in Sunday’s final where he was able to handle Anderson’s big serves much better than previous opponents.

He also saved all seven break points he faced – including five that would have given Anderson the third set.

After shaking hands with Anderson, Djokovic performed his ritual of plucking a few blades of grass and putting them in his mouth as he savoured the triumph.

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(c) Sky News 2018: Djokovic defeats Anderson in straight sets to win Wimbledon