An emotion-charged Novak Djokovic is savouring the “biggest victory” of his life after claiming a record-equalling twenty second grand slam singles crown with a near-perfect 10-out-of-10 Australian Open remaining overcome Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Djokovic preserved his aura of invincibility on Rod Laver Arena to see off Tsitsipas 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) in a briefly aggressive however finally anticlimactic championship decider on Sunday evening.
The straight-sets however not at all times stress-free victory drew Djokovic degree with Rafael Nadal on the boys’s all-time grand slam titles leaderboard and secured the tennis super-Novak a record-extending tenth trophy at Melbourne Park.
The 35-year-old joins 14-times French Open champion Nadal as solely the second man to win the identical slam on a minimum of 10 events.
Unbeaten – nonetheless – in finals on RLA and and not using a defeat in 41 matches in Australia since 2018, Djokovic didn’t want his father’s courtside assist to take one other big stride in direction of sporting immortality.
Srdjan Djokovic was conspicuously absent from the champion’s field, regardless of being given the inexperienced gentle to attend the ultimate after being swept up in one thing of a world incident by posing with pro-Russian followers on the event final week.
He will be sure you be part of the after celebration, although, after his son accomplished a triumphant and tumultuous return to his happiest grand slam looking floor following final yr’s dramatic deportation from Australia on the eve of his 2021 Open defence.
Djokovic’s reduction was laid naked when he scaled the stands to have a good time along with his entourage, together with his mom Dijana and coach Goran Ivanisevic, and exploded with unbridled pleasure, then momentarily collapsed beneath the seats.
“I have to say that this has been one of the most challenging tournaments I have ever played in my life, considering the circumstances not playing last year, coming back this year,” Djokovic mentioned.
“Only the team and the family knows what we’ve been through in the last four or five weeks and this probably is, I would say, the biggest victory in my life considering the circumstances.”
The nice Rod Laver was fittingly entrance and centre with the most effective view in the home named in his honour for the Serb’s newest history-making act.
“There is a reason why I’ve played my best tennis throughout my career in Australia and on this court in front of legendary Rod Laver. Thank you so much for being present tonight, sir,” Djokovic mentioned.
“I tried to pinch myself and really live through these moments.”
In addition to the spoils, information and the $2.975 million winner’s cheque, Djokovic may also return to world No.1 on Monday, for a seventh stint atop the rankings, after as soon as once more denying Tsitsipas an elusive maiden main and the prospect to scale the summit himself for the primary time.
Djokovic additionally beat Tsitsipas within the 2021 French Open decider.
This time, although, the Serb was not compelled to recuperate from two units down after dominating the third seed for a lot of the match.
After seizing the opening set with the lone break within the fourth recreation, and looking out totally untroubled on his personal serve, Djokovic was briefly rattled late within the second stanza.
Storming the online with success, after being completely bossed from the baseline, Tsitsipas usual a set level within the tenth recreation just for Djokovic to reserve it with a forehand winner.
Opportunity misplaced, Tsitsipas fell two units behind after Djokovic sealed the tiebreaker and assumed whole command when the Greek flayed a forehand huge.
And when Tsitsipas relinquished an early break within the third set, then surrendered one other tiebreaker, it was recreation, set and match Djokovic after two hours and 56 minutes.
“I’ve had the privilege to play a lot of difficult, high-intensity matches but I would like to say one more time Novak brings the best out in me,” mentioned the vanquished runner-up.
“He’s one of the greatest in our sport and, I think, he’s the greatest that has ever held a tennis racquet for sure.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
