Confirming their unlikely, blossoming "bromance", Novak Djokovic has hailed Nick Kyrgios a potential Wimbledon champion in waiting after crushing the Australian's hopes in a gripping final at the All England Club.
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Djokovic had to pull out all stops to post a stirring 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-3) comeback victory to claim a seventh Wimbledon crown on Sunday.
Kyrgios threatened early on to become the first unseeded player since Djokovic's now coach Goran Ivansevic defeated Pat Rafter in the 2001 final to win tennis's greatest prize.
But, not for the first time in his glittering career, Djokovic staged a tenacious fightback to prevail after three hours and one minute to snare his 21st grand slam title.
"He's a bit of a god, I'm not going to lie. I thought I played well," Kyrgios said.
"I'd like to congratulate Novak. He's won this championship I don't even know how many times anymore."
At 27, the supremely gifted Kyrgios was finally contesting his maiden grand slam final.
But the exhausted runner-up said his breakout run hadn't necessarily whet his appetite for more shots at major glory.
"Absolutely not. I'm so tired, honestly. Myself, my team - I think we're all exhausted. I've played so much tennis. I definitely need a well-earned vacation after this one," Kyrgios said.
"I'm just really happy with this result, probably the best of my career and hopefully maybe one day I'll be here again - but I don't know about that."
Djokovic, though, graciously declared: "Nick, you'll be back. Not just Wimbledon, but finals.
"It's hard to find consolation words after such a tough loss but you showed why you deserve to be one of the best players in the world, particularly on this surface.
"Congrats to you and all your team for an amazing tournament. I wish you all the best, man. I really do.
"I really respect you a lot. I think you're a phenomenal tennis player and athlete, an amazing talent. I mean, you'll be hearing that for many years.
"But now everything is starting to come together for you and I'm sure we're going to see much of you in the later stages of the grand slams."
Considering their once frosty, fractious past, Djokovic said he never envisaged lavishing Kyrgios with such compliments.
"I never thought I'm going to say so many nice things about you considering the relationship," he laughed.
"Okay, it's officially a bromance," said the Serb, to gales of laughter from the centre court crowd as he agreed to the pair's pre-match social media deal that Sunday's winner owed the loser a dinner.
"I don't know if we're going to make it happen tonight or some other night but, hopefully, this is the start of a wonderful relationship - off court as well."
Australian Associated Press
