Back at his best, Djokovic became Wimbledon’s champion for the fourth time, grabbing a lead right away against a weary Kevin Anderson in the final and holding off a late challenge to win 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (3).
Angelique Kerber was so steady, so patient, so accurate throughout the Wimbledon final. She never really gave Serena Williams much of a chance.
These are not the sorts of matches Maria Sharapova is supposed to lose, letting lead after lead slip away Tuesday against a qualifier ranked 132nd — and in the first round of Wimbledon, no less.
Nadal won his record-extending 11th championship at the French Open on Sunday, overcoming a late problem with a finger on his racket-swinging hand and displaying his foe-rattling best for a 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory over No. 7 seed Thiem, the only person to beat the Spaniard on clay over the past two seasons.
Halep added Grand Slam trophy No. 1 to her No. 1 ranking, coming back from a set and a break down to beat Stephens 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 and win the championship at Roland Garros in a match made up of long points and key momentum swings.
Stephens closed in on her second Grand Slam title by beating pal Madison Keys 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday in the first all-American semifinal at the French Open since 2002. It also was a rematch of the U.S. Open final won by Stephens last September.
Winners at the ESPY Awards presented Wednesday:
Two-time U.S. Open runner-up Victoria Azarenka is ranked just below the cutoff for direct entry into the year's last Grand Slam tournament.
The U.S. Open women's and men's singles champions will each get $3.8 million and the Grand Slam tennis tournament's total prize money will rise to $53 million.
Singer Kelly Clarkson will headline opening night at the U.S. Open.
What had gone from a Big 4 to a Big 2 is now back to a Big 3, with Novak Djokovic rejoining Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the top of men's tennis.
Serena Williams climbed 153 spots in the WTA rankings after her runner-up finish at Wimbledon, putting her back in the top 30.
WORLD CUP
From champions Novak Djokovic and Angelique Kerber, to runner-up Serena Williams, this edition of Wimbledon was all about comebacks of various sorts.
A quick look at Wimbledon:
After coming through two grueling five-setters to reach the Wimbledon final, Kevin Anderson finally ran out of steam.
Novak Djokovic wins his fourth Wimbledon championship, beating Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (3) in the final.
The changes Angelique Kerber has made on the court helped her win a first Wimbledon title. She believes the changes she made off the court will ensure her second coming as a dominant force in the women's game endures.
The Latest from Wimbledon (all times local):
The Latest on Sunday at the World Cup (all times local):
San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski held off a charge from three-time defending champion Mark Mulder to maintain a one-point lead after the second round of the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe on Saturday.
Breaking and creating records weren't the most special parts of winning the Wimbledon women's doubles title for Barbora Krejcikova.
A quick look at Wimbledon:
Mike Bryan found himself a suitable backup partner for Wimbledon and the result was a record-tying 17th Grand Slam men's doubles title - and his first without his twin brother.
For someone who already owns 23 Grand Slam titles, seven at Wimbledon, Serena Williams sure sounds like a tennis player who is just starting her career.
