2011 Wimbledon Results: Novak Djokovic defeats Rafael Nadal in Mens Finals

Not only was Rafael Nadal denied for the fifth consecutive final by Novak Djokovic this season, but the Spaniard has now relinquished the No.1 ranking. By simply reaching the Wimbledon Finals, the Serb overtook Nadal for the top spot as the best player in the globe.

It was the day that Novak Djokovic had been waiting for since he was a boy, a chance to win at the men’s finals at the All England Club, and after an incredible season there could not have been a different outcome. The now No. 1 Novak Djokovic continued upon his rampage of Spaniard Rafael Nadal on Sunday at Wimbledon, defeating him 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3.

After the match, the Serb got some positive words from the only man to beat him this year. Former world No.1, Roger Federer, who has been owned by Nadal in the past, sounded off in support of the new world’s top ranked Djokovic. Federer defeated Djokovic in this year’s French Open semifinals.

“He deserves to become No. 1 after an immense start to the year,” Federer said. “When you lose so rarely, your confidence carries you a long way. And he’s proved before at Wimbledon that he can play on grass. It’s good for tennis that it happened.”

The Spaniard had not been able to catch a break against Djokovic this year, losing to him twice on hard courts as well as clay. But on Sunday the loss came on grass, after an incredible display of agility and precision by the Serbian. Nadal did his best to try and get back into the match, winning the third set, but Djokovic came back in the fourth to close it out and win his first grass-court title.

With a 48-1 record in 2011, and having defeated Nadal five straight times, it was only natural that the Serbian would feel on top of the world. So what does Djokovic do when he wins? He eats grass from Centre Court!

“I felt like an animal,” he said after the match. “I wanted to see how it tastes. It tastes good.”