In contemplating the showdown between six-time champion Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios in Sunday’s men’s singles final, it would be a good idea to pay some attention to the past.

Through to his fourth straight Wimbledon final, Djokovic has featured in eight of the previous 11 title matches at the All England Club and 11 of the past 15 Grand Slams that he has contested.

Until this week, Kyrgios had reached just two Grand Slam quarter-finals in eight years, and none since 2015.

Both are chasing the same prize in the 135th men’s singles final.

“I'm aware of what's on the line. I mean, every match, every Grand Slam that I get to play at this stage of my career, there is a lot on the line,” Djokovic said following his four set semi-final victory over Cameron Norrie.

“I don't know how many Grand Slam opportunities to win the trophy I will still have, as I will have [on Sunday].

“So, of course, I'm approaching it with a positive attitude and self-belief and willingness to win. There's no doubt about it.”

Last year, the then world No.1 continued his most dominant start to a season by scooping a third straight Slam to draw level with his great rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal with 20 Grand Slam titles.

Few could have predicted the Serbian would again be two adrift of the Spaniard at this point.

Setbacks in 2022, some due to choices of his own, others down to injury and subsequent lack of match play, left him in a predicament he had not faced in four years in south-west London: he arrived at The Championships without either of the opening two Grand Slams of the season under his belt.

The first player to reach eight or more finals at three different Slams, victory will make Djokovic the first player to win seven or more titles at two different Grand Slams.

Through to a record 32nd Grand Slam final, he carries a 37-match winning streak on Centre Court into his third showdown with Kyrgios, with hopes of becoming just the fourth man in the Open era to triumph at Wimbledon four times in succession.

Such rare company was not lost on him before he began this year’s campaign.

“Pete Sampras, winning his first Wimbledon, was the first tennis match I've ever seen on the TV,” Djokovic said.

“So, of course, there's a lot of connection to this tournament. Pete has won it seven times, if I'm not mistaken. Hopefully I can do the same this year.”

Despite a pair of grass court semi-finals in Germany leading in, few had Kyrgios pencilled in as a finalist when the draw was released.

Victories over Filip Krajinovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas were upsets on paper only, and after Chilean Cristian Garin had few answers in the quarter-finals, many – Kyrgios included – were champing at the bit for his clash with No.2 seed Nadal, whom he defeated on his debut here as a 19-year-old in 2014.

An abdominal tear ruled the Spaniard out, making the 27-year-old the first unseeded – and first Australian – Wimbledon finalist since Mark Philippoussis in 2003.

“I felt like earlier in my career, I didn't realise that these days off and the practice is so crucial,” Kyrgios said. “I beat Paul Jubb 7-5 in the fifth set in my first round, and now I'm in the Wimbledon final.

“You just have to ride the waves, roll with the punches in a Grand Slam. You just don't know. You really don't know. You could be four points away from losing the tournament, then 11 days later you're in the final.”

The reigning champion knows better than to size up his rival based on his current ranking of world No.40.

The Australian, after all, has not dropped a set in their two previous meetings.

Djokovic has not forgotten those two outings from five years ago and accepts there may be danger.

“I haven't practised with him or played with him since the last time I lost to him in, what was it, '17 I think,” Djokovic said.

“On grass I would assume it's even tougher to read his serve and to return because he has so many free points.

“You could see that throughout this tournament, as well. He just puts additional pressure on your serve. He moves well. He's got great hands. So very complete player.

“I guess it's going to be a game of small margins. I hope I can be at the desired level, then really it's a mental game in the end, who stays tougher and calmer in the decisive moments.”

In the ladies’ doubles final on Sunday, top seeds Elise Mertens and Shuai Zhang will take on Czech No.2 seeds, Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova.

Belgium’s Mertens clinched the title last year with Hsieh Su-wei, while Krejcikova and Siniakova prevailed in 2018.

Japanese No.1 seed Shingo Kunieda looks to complete a career Grand Slam when he meets British No.2 seed Alfie Hewett to contest the Gentlemen’s Wheelchair singles trophy.

It will be Hewett’s maiden Wimbledon singles final.

In an all-Dutch final, 19-year-old Niels Vink and 22-year-old Sam Schroder square off for the Quad Wheelchair title.

Schroder, who defeated the retiring Dylan Alcott in this year’s Australian Open final, aims to go one better than his runner-up finish last year against the 2022 Roland-Garros champion.

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