Djokovic and Kvitova Turn Back the Clock to 2011

So Wimbledon is complete.  Djokovic and Kvitova are champions, each regaining the title they won in 2011 for their 2nd Wimbledon title.

6) Petra Kvitova (CZE) def. 13) Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) 6-3 6-0

-Kvitova wins her 12th career title, last '13 Tokyo
-It is her 2nd major ('11 Wimbledon)
-She is now 2-0 in major finals
-She is back up to no. 4 in the world
-She becomes yet another woman to reach 2 majors titles (Azarenka, Li, Kuznetsova are others)
-Bouchard manages just 3 games in her first major final, but I believe she will have more opportunity

I am not sure if this result tells us any more about the tour or the state of women's tennis forward.  We know Kvitova is good on grass but I'm not sure this result makes her any more consistent than she has been over the past 2 or 3 years.  However, this may give her some additional confidence to gain that needed consistency.  A few other things we learned at this Wimbledon is that Serena is vulnerable, clay is definitely Sharapova's best surface, and Halep and Bouchard should become fixtures in the top 10 if not top 5.  Radwanska isn't ready to take that next step despite being given opportunities.

And looking at the top of the race to Singapore standings, I believe 7 of the spots are more or less filled, although there is still plenty of tennis to come.  Those women are Sharapova, Halep, Li, Bouchard, Kvitova, Serena, and Radwanska.  Then Ivanovic leads a trio arguably fighting for the last spot including Cibulkova and Kerber with Jankovic and Errani a little farther back.  Then Pennetta, Suarez Navarro, Safarova, and Petkovic are lurking but still long shots.

1) Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6-7(9) 6-4 7-6(4) 5-7 6-4

-Djokovic wins his 45th career title, 4th of 2014, last '14 Rome
-It is his 7th major ('08 Aussie Open, '11 Aussie Open, '11 Wimbledon, '11 US Open, '12 Aussie Open, '13 Aussie Open)
-It is his 2nd Wimbledon ('11)
-He takes over the no. 1 ranking from Nadal which means he'll likely hold it through the US Open, since Nadal won the Rogers Cup, Cincinnati, and the US Open last year
-It is only the 2nd major final loss for Federer to a man other than Nadal ('09 US Open - Del Potro)
-Djokovic clinches a spot in the World Tour Finals

Despite shaky play at times throughout the tournament, Djokovic reigns supreme at Wimbledon, defeating the 7-time champion in the final.  With this result, Djokovic likely goes on to finish the year at no. 1 although there is still plenty of tennis to be played.  I haven't been very impressed with Djokovic's form this year but looking at the results he has 1 major and 3 Masters, so he is again the player to beat.  Nadal should be back to normal on the hard courts but I wonder how much of a threat he'll be there to Djokovic, although Nadal did win their meeting in New York last year.

With this result, I will jump on the bandwagon with those saying Federer will not win another major. This year he played with amazing form throughout the championships, had lost his serve just once through the semis, and only had to play one Big 4 member, yet came up short in the final against Djokovic.  I think he can remain a Top 5 player for a little while but unless he gets a perfect draw and others take out the favorites, it is difficult to imagine him winning a major again.

Looking at the race to London standings, it is less cut and dried than the women.  Nadal and Djokovic have already clinched and Federer and Wawrinka are miles ahead of everyone else.  Berdych and Dimitrov are then slightly ahead of a large group including Murray, Nishikori, Ferrer, Gulbis, Raonic and then there's a big gap to Cilic.  This could be an interesting year for the race especially if Murray and Ferrer continue to struggle.  And there is the opportunity for new blood with Dimitrov, Raonic, Nishikori, and Gulbis in the mix.

Honestly I'm a little sad for Federer, but the tour continues and we have grass and clay action this week as the lower ranked players are right back at it with the US Open series right around the corner.