Nick Kyrgios believes he has the game to challenge for the biggest titles in the future as he looks to take confidence from his run to his first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon.

The Australian won the first set against Novak Djokovic Sunday, before the Serbian turned the tables to clinch his seventh crown at The Championships on Centre Court.

“My level is right there. I feel like you look at what Novak has done to some other opponents, it’s not a good feeling. But I’m right there,” Kyrgios said in his post-match press conference. “I’m not behind the eight ball at all. I played a Slam final against one of the greatest of all time, and I was right there.

“[I will take] confidence. It was a hell of an occasion… I came out in the first set and I looked like I was the one who had played in a lot of finals. I thought I dealt with the pressure pretty well.”

The Australian, who felt he ‘belonged’ on the biggest stage during his defeat against the Serbian, leaves London holding a 12-3 record on grass in 2022.

Kyrgios, who won the Australian Open men’s doubles title with Thanasi Kokkinakis in January, believes his performances on the lawns in London have further signified the belief that he is moving in the right direction.

“[I] feel like my fire’s been lit this whole year. I’ve obviously met a lot of amazing people this year who have just given me extra motivation,” Kyrgios said. “To find people that have my back, that I just love being around, and they just want to push me to be a better person and to be a better tennis player. They realise that I’m immensely talented and feel [I have] a lot more to do in this sport.”

Read More From The Final
Brain Game: The Moment Djokovic Flipped The Final Against Kyrgios
Djokovic: ‘I Don’t Take Any Wins For Granted’
Ivanisevic Praises Djokovic’s Win, Calls Kyrgios ‘Tennis Genius’

The 27-year-old had taken a 2-0 ATP Head2Head series lead into his match against Djokovic, having not dropped a set across their previous meetings.

However, Sunday’s encounter was their first at a major, a stage Djokovic has tasted so much success at. The top seed was competing in a record 32nd Grand Slam final, while Kyrgios was making his maiden major championship match appearance.

The World No. 40 feels that Djokovic’s experience showed in the key moments, with the Serbian capturing his 21st Grand Slam title.

“I felt like he just has so much experience to draw to. He’s won the tournament four times in a row. When you win an event that much, when you’ve been in those situations, it’s unbelievable,” Kyrgios said. “You can tell yourself you’ve been here before. The confidence and the belief in yourself, that only comes with achievement or something that he’s achieved like that many times. I can only imagine how confident he feels every day, especially at Wimbledon, walking around.”

After taking the first set, Kyrgios was unable to push on and clinch his first major title. However, the Australian was happy with the level he showed.

“I thought I handled myself well today. I came out there and I did what I had to do tactically to give myself a chance. I served amazing I thought today, and he was just able to put so many balls in play,” Kyrgios said. “I just came up short, and I’m happy with that.”

Novak Djokovic defeated Nick Kyrgios on Sunday in a thrilling four-set Wimbledon final that captured the world’s attention.

Stars from inside and outside the tennis world, including Juan Martin del Potro, Andy Roddick, Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova reacted to Djokovic’s seventh triumph at The Championships on social media.

Read More From The Final
Kyrgios: ‘I Was Right There’ With Djokovic 
Brain Game: The Moment Djokovic Flipped The Final Against Kyrgios
Ivanisevic Praises Djokovic’s Win, Calls Kyrgios ‘Tennis Genius’

Great champion!!! Idemo Nole!!! 🏆 https://t.co/nQwvPIFeLO

— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) July 10, 2022

So impressive. Congrats to Nole ! Cheers tweeps. Thanks for watching w me!

— andyroddick (@andyroddick) July 10, 2022

Congratulations on winning your 7th Wimbledon Novak Djokovic, that was a controlled and masterful performance. Bad luck Nick, you have so much talent, I hope to see you in another Slam final soon. 🚀

— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) July 10, 2022

Congratulations to @DjokerNole on winning his 21st major title and his 7th at #Wimbledon! https://t.co/Q4onVtvtaW

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) July 10, 2022

#7 for @DjokerNole at @Wimbledon and #21 overall- amazing!!!
Champion…!!!

— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) July 10, 2022

Keeps raising the bar!! What a champ 🔥 congrats man @DjokerNole 👊🏼 https://t.co/TLvffJWSM2

— Denis Shapovalov (@denis_shapo) July 10, 2022

Congratulations Djoker @DjokerNole on amazing 🤩 7th @Wimbledon 4th in arow joining Borg Sampras and Fed as only men to do in open era 💪👍✔️👊😎🏆👏

— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) July 10, 2022

The champion does it again and how! Grand slam no. 21 for @DjokerNole👏 #WimbledonFinal

— cheteshwar pujara (@cheteshwar1) July 10, 2022

Congrats @DjokerNole. Huge achievement. Class act. @NickKyrgios too – so great to see such high level tennis. #Wimbledon

— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) July 10, 2022

After Rafael Nadal narrowed the ‘Big Titles’ race by lifting the Roland Garros trophy, Novak Djokovic extended his advantage on Sunday by defeating Nick Kyrgios for the Wimbledon title.

Djokovic battled past Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3) for his seventh triumph at The Championships and his 21st major crown. The Serbian now owns 64 ‘Big Titles’, putting him five ahead of Nadal and 10 in front of Roger Federer. A ‘Big Title’ is a trophy at a Grand Slam championship, the Nitto ATP Finals, an ATP Masters 1000 tournament or an Olympic singles gold medal.

The 35-year-old also drew closer to Nadal in the race for the most men’s singles Grand Slam titles. Djokovic now has 21, putting him one behind Nadal. Federer has lifted 20 major trophies.

The Serbian also tied his idol Pete Sampras and William Renshaw for the second-most men’s singles titles in Wimbledon history with seven. Only Federer, an eight-time champion at the grass-court major, has emerged victorious more at the event.

Read More From The Final
Kyrgios: ‘I Was Right There’ With Djokovic 
Djokovic: ‘I Don’t Take Any Wins For Granted’
Ivanisevic Praises Djokovic’s Win, Calls Kyrgios ‘Tennis Genius’

Djokovic improved his ‘Big Title’ win rate to one victory for every 3.2 events played (64/207), while Nadal has claimed one ‘Big Title’ for every 3.4 tournaments he has played (59/202). Only Federer (4.4, 54/240) and Pete Sampras (4.9, 30/147) have claimed a ‘Big Title’ at a rate of greater than once per five events played.

Current and Former Champions’ Big Titles Won (Records Since 1990)

^ Includes Olympic Games gold medals and tournament participations
* Becker’s four other Grand Slam titles came before 1990.
** Edberg’s three other Grand Slam titles came before 1990.
*** Chang’s one Grand Slam title came before 1990