Novak Djokovic won his first Wimbledon title with a four-set victory over defending champion Rafael Nadal.
The Serbian second seed went into his first Wimbledon final as the underdog despite losing just once all year and being confirmed as the new world number one on Monday.
But Nadal – a two-time Wimbledon champion with 10 Grand Slams to his name – had no answer to Djokovic’s power and accuracy for most of the match, as the 24-year-old won 6-4 6-1 1-6 6-3.
Two-time Australian champion Djokovic now has three Grand Slam titles to his name.
This is the Serb’s third grand slam success, with wins in Australia in 2008 and 2011, comes in a year when the Serb has been almost perfect. It was his 50th win in 51 matches and his fifth win over Nadal this year. Roger Federer’s victory over him at the French Open is the only defeat that he’s experienced since the turn of the year.
Nadal who was on a 20-match winning streak at SW19 was still favoured by many observers a third Wimbledon title as he had won all five Grand Slam meetings with Djokovic.
The Spaniard had some surges throughout the contest but the the new world number one was not to be denied, and played some sensational tennis to clinch his first Wimbledon title.
“It’s really hard to describe with any words except that it’s the best day of my life, the most special day of my life,” Djokovic told BBC Sport.
“This is my favourite tournament. I always dreamed of winning the first tournament I watched in my life. I think I am still sleeping and having my dream.
“When you’re playing the best player in the world, Rafa Nadal, who has won two of the last three Wimbledons, he has always been winning the big matches against me in the Grand Slams and I had to be on top of my game today.
“I probably played my best match ever on the grass-court and I want to congratulate him for having a great tournament.”
