Wimbledon champion Djokovic gets rapturous Serb welcome

Novak Djokovic was greeted by screaming
fans as he arrived in Belgrade.

Wimbledon tennis champion Novak
Djokovic has received a rapturous
welcome in his native Serbia the day after
winning the title.
A smiling Djokovic and his team were given
an open-top bus tour from Belgrade airport
escorted by a dozen police vehicles.
Outside parliament, tens of thousands of
fans cheered as their hero raised a replica of
the famous trophy.
Djokovic, 24, beat Spain's Rafael Nadal in
Sunday's final.
"You made this day the best day of my life,"
Djokovic told the screaming crowd.
"He is the pride of Serbia and [the] Serbian
people," said one teenage girl who had
travelled some 80km (50 miles) to Belgrade
from the town of Novi Sad.
"Lucky is the mother that gave birth to such
a hard-working and gifted boy," said
onlooker Milorad Veselinovic.
Many of those gathered in Nikola Pasic
Square carried Serbian flags and banners
reading "Nole we love you" and "Nole the
king" referring to Djokovic's nickname.
Djokovic guaranteed his place as world
number one when he beat Jo-Wilfried
Tsonga in the last four at Wimbledon.
He followed up by outplaying defending
champion Nadal 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 on centre
court on Sunday.

Wimbledon 2011 Finals in Pictures

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2011 men's singles Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic kisses the trophy.

Wimbledon 2011 Mens Finalist Nvak Djokovic and Rafael Nadar with their trophy

2011 men's singles champion Novak Djokovic savours the moment as Rafael Nadal looks on.

2011 men's singles champion Novak Djokovic is all smiles as he shows off his trophy.

Nadal reacts after losing a set

Novak Djokovic exults after winning the Wimbledon 2011 Mens Crown

The 2011 Ladies' Champion and runner-up Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova

2011 men's singles champion Novak Djokovic brandishes his trophy outside the members' enclosure.

Petra Kvitova during her post match press conference

Novak Djokovic clinches victory in the 2011 men's singles final.

Novak Djokovic is fired up on Centre Court as he battles Rafael Nadal for the 2011 Wimbledon title

The defending champion Rafael Nadal stretches for the ball during the Men's Final against Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic fires a forehand at Rafael Nadal during the Men's Final

Novak Djokovic fires a forehand at Rafael Nadal during the Men's Final

Novak Djokovic entertains during his post-match press conference.

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Djokovic outplayed me: Nadal

The sign of a true champion is how well he takes defeat. And judging by the way he explained his four-set pummelling by Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal is a true champion. He may have been outplayed and out-manoeuvred for the best part of two-and-a-half hours but the beaten finalist took the defeat on the chin and owned up to his failings. There are not many men who would be as honest or as open in such a situation.

The reason for his defeat could be explained simply and swiftly: he was just not good enough to beat Djokovic. He did not take his chances, he was nervous and he was outplayed. After losing four Masters finals to the Serb this year - in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome - he was twitchy in the pressure moments on Centre Court. Nadal made it all sound so logical and so normal.

"I lost because I am playing against the best player of the moment, the best player of the world tomorrow, and I am the second," he said. "And when you play against these players and they are playing unbelievable, the normal thing is [to] lose. That's what happened the last few times.

"He's doing great. He's doing fantastic. I had to play better to win, and I didn't today. I played a little bit less aggressive. And to win matches here, to win tough matches like today, like two days ago, the most important thing is to play well in the important moments. A few points can change the match, and I didn't (win them) today. When one player beats you five times, it is because my game doesn't bother him a lot. Today probably against me he's playing better than my level. And I have to try to find solutions..."

You don't often get that from a player who has just lost the one title that means more to him than anything else in the world. From the time he first played tennis, Wimbledon was always a dream for Nadal. Growing up playing on the slow, red clay of Majorca, he knew that Spaniards were expected to do well at Roland Garros - sure enough, he did not disappoint and to date has won six times there. But on grass? At Wimbledon? Now, that really would be something. So when he won his first title in 2008, it meant everything to him, and after that win he extended his unbeaten run in SW19 to 20 matches until that man Djokovic did for him in the final. That must have hurt. Apparently not.

"I lost against him five times," he said. "The rest of the year I won almost every match. So I'm doing things very well (but) probably not against him. That's what I have to change. Probably the mental part is a little bit dangerous for me, because when I arrived at 5‑4, I played a bad game from 30‑0. When I arrived at 4‑3 in the fourth set, I played another bad game with my serve. To change that (I) probably (needed to) be a little bit less nervous, play more aggressive, and all the time be confident with myself. That's what I going to try next time. If not, I am going to be here explaining the sixth [loss]."

Nadal was defeated, then, but not beaten. No one has been able to come close to catching the Serb this year as he sailed around the world collecting titles like they were going out of fashion. He has only lost one match in the past seven months and now, with the Wimbledon trophy sitting proudly alongside his No.1 ranking, he has reached every target and made every dream come true. That is a nice feeling, as Nadal can attest, but it will not last forever.

Last year the Spaniard won three of the four Grand Slams - only Australia eluded him - and he was on top of the world. That is when Djokovic came roaring up behind him and knocked him off his perch. Life can change very quickly in professional sport and Nadal is already plotting a way to change Djokovic's view of the world.

"We can analyse that my game is not bothering him," Nadal said. "We have to find how I can bother him another time. I did it in the past. He's in the best moment of his career. I am in one of the best moments of my career, (but it's) still not enough for (me to beat) him. My experience says this level is not forever. Even for me when I was winning three Grand Slams last year, my level is not forever. Probably the level of Novak of today is not forever. I'm going to be here fighting all the time, waiting for my moment. I don't have to wait a lot, because I already won three tournaments this year and one Grand Slam. But (I am) waiting for my moment to beat him another time."

Nadal, then, has flung down the gauntlet. He may be a true champion in defeat but, clearly, he is not planning on making a habit of it.

Djokovic dominates Nadal to be Wimbledon champion

Novak Djokovic underlined his new status as the world's top tennis player by shattering Rafael Nadal's winning streak at Wimbledon to add his own name to the roll of honour at The Championships for the first time.

The 24-year-old Serb, with his country's president watching from the Royal Box, won 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 in two hours 28 minutes to continue his domination of tennis - and Nadal in particular - throughout this most amazing season in his career. Five times in succession he has now defeated the Spaniard in finals, but none were as important or will taste as sweet as this.

Djokovic is the first from his country to capture a Wimbledon singles title and his joy as a Nadal backhand sailed over the baseline was unconfined. He fell flat on his back, arose with both arms uplifted before squatting down with his head in his hands to briefly contemplate what he had achieved. On such an occasion the first prize of £1.1 million was virtually meaningless, especially to a Monte Carlo-based millionaire.

He had turned a childhood dream into reality and to any true sportsman that is priceless. Officially installed from Monday as world No.1 by virtue of reaching the final, Djokovic showed he is worthy of usurping Nadal in that position as he took his win-loss record for the year to 48-1. A pair of cracking forehand winners followed by an ace in the opening game were clear indication of Djokovic's intent to carry the fight to the defending champion and what ensued merely underlined that intention. Djokovic was playing a smart game, serving to the widest corners and drawing Nadal forward with drop shots, which enjoyed mixed fortune.

One was exquisite and unreturnable, another struck the netting and a third was run down by the Spaniard. So there was the unusual sight of the man who specialises in destroying the opposition forced onto the defensive, especially in the longer rallies. "You're a genius, Rafa, genius" bellowed one Nadal fan, but it was a worried genius who was attempting to stem the flow of Serbian winners.

Djokovic was untouchable on service and moved 5-4 ahead with his third ace, clipping the sideline - at which Nadal stared long and hard without issuing an official challenge for a Hawk-Eye decision. Stepping up to attempt to break the Nadal serve to win the set seemed to inspire Djokovic to new heights. At 30-0 down, he struck two brilliant winners, one on each wing. Then Nadal's netted forehand handed the Serb his first set point. One chance was all that a Djokovic in such form needed. He returned a 93mph second serve with such venom that Nadal's forehand response was wide. So the underdog was a set up in 41 minutes with some superb tennis. He had dropped a mere six points on serve and Nadal - denied even a sniff of a break point - had committed seven unforced errors. To put that into context, that was equal to the defending champion's total in his semi-final win over Andy Murray.

Having won the last two games of the opening set, Djokovic promptly won the first three of the second set, too. On a perfect day for tennis, warm and still, it was the Serb who was playing perfectly at this stage, quicker around the court and more resilient in the rallies. Nadal finally applied the brake to that streak, albeit temporarily, by holding to love. Once more however Djokovic revved up, lifting his ace count to seven and wrapping up the second set in a little over half-an-hour. This time he had conceded just five points on his serve and lifted his total count of winners to 22. With justification, Nadal looked a worried man.

A counter-attack was the urgent requirement, and Nadal duly launched it, finally reaching his first break point and cashing in on it when Djokovic netted a backhand approach. It was precisely the lift Nadal needed and he roared through the third set in inspired fashion, winning three service games to love and breaking Djokovic for a second time when the Serb perpetrated his first double fault. That set lasted a mere 30 minutes.

Having been rocked back on his heels by that typical Nadal fightback, Djokovic reacted like a champion by going 2-0 up in the fourth. First, he survived a break point to hold serve and then a perfect drop volley set up another break of Nadal. The Majorcan's response was to break Djokovic immediately and go on to level at 2-2, but nevertheless he was the one who looked more likely to crack again in a tense fourth set - and that is exactly what transpired in the eighth game. First Nadal double-faulted, for the first time in the match, then he sent a crosscourt forehand unforgivably wide before netting a forehand and handing his opponent three break points.

Another error, this time on the backhand, and Nadal was duly broken, leaving Djokovic to serve for the title. Despite the enormity of that prospect, Nole did not falter. A glorious backhand volley took him within one point of glory, at which Nadal - the champion for the last two years he has competed at Wimbledon - obliged with another error, a backhand out of play. On the occasion of the 125th Championships, the Centre Court crowd had a new champion to acclaim.

Wimbledon: Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Murray reach quarters

Reigning champion Rafael Nadal, Australian Open titlist Novak Djokovic, six-time Wimbledon champ Roger Federer and heavy British crowd favorite Andy Murray highlighted Monday's fourth-round winners at The Championships.

The world No. 1 Nadal won his 11th straight Grand Slam match, and his 18th straight Wimbledon outing, with a hard-fought victory over 24th-seeded Argentine slugger Juan Martin del Potro, 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 on the grass on the famed Centre Court.

The highly-anticipated match did not disappoint on Monday.

Nadal ultimately snuck past del Potro in 3 hours, 52 minutes, as both players battled injuries in the heavyweight bout.

The great Nadal took a nine-minute medical timeout to have his left foot wrapped just before the start of the opening-set tiebreak, which the Spaniard went on to win.

"For a moment at the end of the first set, I thought that I had to retire (from the match)," Nadal said. "I didn't know what's going on. After that, the pain goes a little bit down and finally I was ready to play."

And del Potro, who played great tennis en route to a routine second-set victory, left the court to have his left hip treated after he took a spill in the third set, which Nadal snuck out via another tiebreak.

In the fourth set, Nadal finally got his first service break of the day with a massive forehand winner, as he grabbed a 3-2 lead in the stanza. The Spaniard consolidated the break with a big hold and held on from there.

Nadal is now 6-3 lifetime against the former world No. 4 and former U.S. Open champion del Potro, who missed Wimbledon last year while recovering from wrist surgery.

The fierce Nadal captured the French Open title earlier this month and is also the reigning Wimbledon and U.S. Open champ. He hasn't lost at the All England Club since losing to Federer in the 2007 final. Nadal beat Federer in their classic final here in 2008, skipped the 2009 edition of the tournament due to injury, and titled here again last year.

The 25-year-old Nadal is now 33-4 for his career at the All England Club.

The 10-time major champion Nadal will face American Mardy Fish in the round of eight. The Spaniard is 5-0 lifetime against the American, including an opening-round Wimbledon victory four years ago.

The second-seeded Djokovic improved to an amazing 45-1 this year with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 pasting of 19th-seeded French lefthander Michael Llodra on Court 1. The super Serb advanced in 1 hour, 41 minutes by playing ultra-clean tennis, which featured a mere six unforced errors and only one double fault. Djokovic broke Llodra four times, while the helpless Frenchman was unable to break the two-time Grand Slam champion on Day 7.

Djokovic already owns a whopping seven titles this year. His lone loss came against Federer in the French Open semifinals earlier this month. That setback halted a 43-match winning streak.

The two-time Wimbledon semifinalist Djokovic, who was also last year's U.S. Open runner-up, has never reached a Wimbledon final. He's now a four-time quarterfinalist at the AEC.

Up next for the Serbian slugger will be upstart Aussie Bernard Tomic in Wednesday's quarterfinals.

The third-seeded former world No. 1 Federer came back to best 18th-seeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 on Court 1. The Swiss great needed just over three hours to advance, which he did with the help of 14 aces among 54 winners and six service breaks. Youzhny settled for only one break on Day 7.

Federer is now 11-0 lifetime against Youzhny, including 3-0 at the majors, and will appear in a remarkable 29th straight Grand Slam quarterfinal.

"I forgot completely (the 29th quarterfinal) was on the line to be quite honest, especially once you're in the heat of the moment, of the battle," Federer said. "I thought I played a good match overall."

The 16-time Grand Slam champion Federer has won six of the last eight Wimbledon titles and is now 59-6 lifetime at the world's most prestigious tennis event. His victory on Monday marked his 100th on grass.

Federer hasn't captured a major title since last year's Aussie Open. He lost to Nadal in the finale at Roland Garros earlier this month.

The 29-year-old Federer will face flashy Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Wednesday.

A fourth-seeded Murray, meanwhile, handled 17th-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-2 on Centre Court. The Brit smacked 14 aces and was not broken by the nifty Gasquet.

Murray and Gasquet played in front of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge -- Prince William and his new wife Kate -- on Monday.

"If I'd known they were coming, I would have shaved," Murray said. "I was thinking to myself as I came off I was sweaty and very hairy. I said to them, 'I'm sorry, I'm a bit sweaty.' But it was really nice."

Murray, who has now reached the Wimbledon quarters four years running, is a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, including this year's Aussie Open. The Dunblane, Scotland native reached the Wimbledon semifinals the last two years and is trying to give Britain its first male Wimbledon champ since Fred Perry in 1936.

Up next for Murray will be Spanish lefthander Feliciano Lopez.

A 10th-seeded Fish straight-setted last year's Wimbledon runner-up, Tomas Berdych, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 6-4. Fish is the last American standing here, male or female, after closing Berdych out with an overhead smash into a wide-open court after 2 hours, 22 minutes on Court 2.

The Minnesota native Fish swatted 23 aces and was not broken on Day 7.

Berdych, seeded sixth this year, succumbed to Nadal in last year's Wimbledon finale.

The 29-year-old Fish will now appear in his first-ever Wimbledon quarterfinal and his third career Grand Slam quarterfinal. His last round-of-eight appearance at a major came three years ago in New York.

A 12fth-seeded Tsonga reached his second straight Wimbledon quarterfinal by taking out seventh-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-1). Tsonga popped 12 aces and was not broken in the straight-set triumph.

The 26-year-old Tsonga is a former Aussie Open runner-up.

The promising Tomic punched his ticket to his first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal by beating Belgian veteran Xavier Malisse 6-1, 7-5, 6-4. Tomic held his quality serve throughout on Court 18.

Malisse was a semifinalist here back in 2002.

The 18-year-old qualifier Tomic is the youngest men's quarterfinalist at Wimbledon since former German great Boris Becker back in 1986.

"What a feeling and what a tournament it's been for me," Tomic said. "I'm at a position now where I've never been happier. I'm looking forward to playing on Wednesday."

Tomic is looking forward to playing Djokovic.

"He's a cool guy. One of the nicest guys out there on the tour," Tomic said. "To play against a guy like him that's (No.) 2 in the world, it doesn't get really better than that."

Lopez continued his fine play at the All England Club with a grueling come- from-behind victory over fellow non-seed Lukasz Kubot, 3-6, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (9-7), 7-5, 7-5. Lopez needed 4 hours, 18 minutes to complete his Day-7 comeback. The slugfest featured 55 aces, including 28 from the winner, and only seven breaks of serve, including four for the Spaniard. Both players fired 80 winners in the marathon.

All four men's quarterfinals will be held on Wednesday, as Tuesday will be an off day for the men in singles.

Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic Beats Marcos Baghdatis to reach fourth round

Novac Djokovic Wins, Frustration Mounts at Wimbledon Novac Djokovic defeated Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, in a racket-smashingly frustrating match. Djokovic's four set victory buys him a ticket to the fourth round, where he will be taking on 19 seed Michael Llorda.

Djokovic has yet to advance past the Semifinals at Wimbledon. While he has excelled on the hard court, he  has yet to get over the hump at Wimbledon.

Winning on grass would help Djokovic to make a case as the world's top player. Roger Federer has mastered this surface and Rafael Nadal has won two of the last three times here at Wimbledon.

MUST READ: Wimbledon 2011: The Best Players That Have Never Won at the All- England Club.
He faces an uphill battle, if want to win it all this year. The frustrating match that just transpired is not a good indication of things to come.

Djokovic has reigned supreme at the Australian Open twice. A Wimbledon victory is exactly what his career needs to make the 24-year-old the world's No. 1. It's unclear as to whether or not one Wimbledon victory
would do so, but it would help immensely.

For now, he needs to concentrate on his next match. Getting ahead of himself could make for a huge upset, as Robin Soderling is evidence of.

Wimbledon: Day 6 preview

Here we are at the sharp end of the first week of the 125th Championships, more or less on schedule despite the nastiness hurled in the direction of this part of London by the weather over the past few days and with remarkably few casualties among the big names.

Andy Roddick has gone, sadly and surprisingly, beaten by a Spaniard he had never lost to in seven previous meetings. So has Li Na, the winner of the French Open women's title, skewered by one of the German girls who are suddenly resurgent. Germany spends years looking for another Steffi Graf and suddenly three come along together.

In addition to Sabine Lisicki, whose recovery from severe ankle problems to ousting Wimbledon's third seed is the stuff of fairy tales, there are Julia Goerges and Andrea Petkovic, all three rising in the rankings.

On the men's side Europe is dominant, with France's and Spain's squads to the fore of players looking forward to a second week at the world's greatest tournament. And then, of course, there is Roger Federer, intent on another Wimbledon title. The fact that it would pull him level at seven with Pete Sampras is, he claims, an irrelevance. Nice to have if it happens, but not what he is working his socks off for this fortnight.

Another title, another chance to hold aloft the greatest trophy in the game, that's what Roger wants and he is in line to take another step towards that ambition with a third round match against David Nalbandian.

To say this pair are old adversaries is quite an understatement. It all kicked off nine years ago on the clay of Monte Carlo, with the Argentine winning for the loss of three games, and this will be their 19th confrontation in a series that Federer leads by 10-8. Nalbandian won the first five, Federer took eight of the next nine and they have split the last four. They have met at the US Open (twice), the Australian Open and the French Open but not, until now, at Wimbledon.

Novak Djokovic, Federer's "Big Four" partner in the lower half of the draw, will also be playing his third round and, like the Swiss, is not so much motoring along as flying. So it will be the turn of Marcos Baghdatis, the sort of bloke you would like to meet at a Happy Hour, to attempt to apply the brakes.

The omens are not good since the Serb has won all four of their clashes. Interestingly, though, they had a five-setter at Wimbledon four years ago and Novak squeaked through 7-5 in the fifth after three tie-break sets.

Rafael Nadal, the third of the Four Musketeers, must try to finish his assignment on No.1 Court against Gilles Muller, postponed after one set because of rain. The break will not have come as a disappointment to Rafa, the defending champion, since he took a nasty tumble just before winning that set on a tie-break and had gone off court for treatment when the rain set in.

By that time, Muller, the man from Luxembourg ranked 92, had inflicted a good deal of grief on the world No.1. Perhaps it was the fact that, for a change, Rafa was facing a fellow left-hander but Muller rattled down 89% of his first serves on target, an incredible statistic. Our hero from Majorca will be the better for a nice night's rest before resuming hostilities.

Fifth seed Robin Soderling lurched through his first round match against Germany's Philipp Petzschner on a string of errors and then fell two sets behind against Lleyton Hewitt, the 2002 Wimbledon Champion, before scrambling home in five and falling to his knees, either in relief or disbelief.

Saturday will be a day for revenge, since he now takes on another Australian, Bernard Tomic, who has survived the shot and shell and horrendous weather of the Roehampton qualifying week. So Bernard should be honed and toned against someone he has never even practised with, though he feels his best bet is to be more relaxed than he was in his five-set second round struggle against the Russian, Igor Andreev.

He has also spoken to Lleyton Hewitt's coach and general wise man of the courts, Tony Roche, and in that laconic Aussie way, Bernard says: "Tony gave me a few good advices on how to play him." Good on yer, Tony.

The Great Adventure of the sisters Williams, Venus and Serena, takes another step, with Serena, going for her fifth Wimbledon title, facing Maria Kirilenko of Russia. Three times previously they have met, and three times Serena has beaten her, so the recovery process for the younger Williams sister should inch forward.

In her last match Serena was required to take herself on to No.2 Court and had a bit of a chunter about it. Asked to comment on this, Maria Sharapova said she would be happy to play wherever she was sent. Just as well, since that is where she will be playing on Saturday.