Today (Sunday) Novak Djokovic took another step on the way to an all-time record, when he won the Australian Championship after a 3:6, 6:7 (4), 6:7 victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final in Melbourne and won the 22nd Grand Slam title of his career.
Djokovic equaled Rafael Nadal, who also has 22 Grand Slam tournament wins, but while the Spaniard proved at the start of the year that he is suffering from injury and close to the twilight of his career, Djokovic once again demonstrated to the tennis world that he is still in his prime, still hungry, still undefeated.
A year after he was expelled from Australia before the start of the championship because of his opposition to the corona vaccines, Djokovic won today for the 10th time in the tournament in Melbourne (the tournament record, of course), with a perfect record of 0:10 in the finals at Broad Labour Arena.
The 35-year-old Serbian tennis player once again displayed a versatile ability, with typical aggressiveness and an uncompromising defensive game that would discourage his opponent.
At the end of the game, symbolically, he officially returned to number one in the world.
meet again
Novak Djokovic with Stefanos Tsitsipas (Photo: Reuters)
In recent years, world tennis has enjoyed the three-way battle between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who fought for the record of winning Grand Slams, and in fact for the title of the greatest tennis player of all time.
Federer has already retired with 20 Grand Slams, and now the hot Djokovic knows: he is on his way to the top of all time.
If this hungry athlete lacked motivation, now he knows that the great record is closer than ever, and no one will be surprised if he achieves it in the next Grand Slam.
Over the past two weeks, Nola has dealt with a muscle strain, taunts from fans and a media storm due to his father expressing support for Vladimir Putin and Russia, but as always, he knew how to leave everything off the court and raced towards another win in his favorite tournament.
He now has 28 consecutive wins in Australia, a historic and impressive streak.
On the other side stands Tsitsipas, who, as I remember, led 0:2 in sets in the Roland Garros 2021 final and then surrendered to a tremendous comeback by Djokovic, and today he surrendered as well and will continue to look for the first Grand Slam in his career.
He also understands: he was just an extra in the show of a legendary athlete.
The home field.
Djokovic (Photo: Reuters)
In the important points he did not stand up to the pressure.
Tsitsipas (Photo: Reuters)
the progress of the game
First set - Djokovic 3:6
After a comfortable service game for Djokovic, Tsitsipas had to save two break points already in his first service game, but knew how to get out of the uncomfortable situation and equalized 1:1.
In the fourth game, the first break came: Nola did not let up and continued with the pressure on his opponent, who, trailing 40:30, committed a double fault and the Serbian went up to a quick and impressive 1:3.
Tsitsipas continued to struggle for his service games and shrunk to 4:2, but Djokovic continued to dictate the pace and went up to 2:5 safely, and after 36 minutes he went up to 0:1 in sets with 3:6.
Set numbers
Aces: Djokovic 2, Tsitsipas 6
Double faults: Djokovic 0, Tsitsipas 1
Winners: Djokovic 9, Tsitsipas 9 Uncommitted
errors: Djokovic 7, Tsitsipas 11 Break
opportunities: Dej
Vokovic 1 of 3, Tsitsipas 0 of 0
Total points: Djokovic 30,
Will continue to look for a first Grand Slam.
Tsitsipas (Photo: Reuters)
Aggressive in attack, determined in defense.
Djokovic (Photo: Reuters)
Second set - 6:7 (4) Djokovic
at the beginning of the set Tsitsipas seemed more offensive, trying to change momentum, and with two dominant service games went up 1:2.
The Greek began to be more accurate with high percentages of success in the first serve, but Djokovic did not panic and equalized at 3:3.
In the seventh game, Tsitsipas again looked aggressive and accurate, and waved his hands at the enthusiastic crowd after he went up 3:4.
Tsitsipas tried to keep pressing, but made two mistakes on the way to the net, and Nola equalized at 4:4.
With a 4:5 advantage to the Greek, he achieved a break point, which was a campaign point, but after a 15-hit rally, the Serbian hit an excellent winner.
Later, with two uncommitted errors by Tsitsipas, Djokovic equalized at 5:5 at the end of a game that lasted 8 minutes.
In the tie breaker, Tsitsipas made 3 unforced errors in the first 5 points, and allowed Djokovic to go up to 1:4 too easily, but then the Serbian made two mistakes on his serve (including a double fault) and Tsitsipas equalized at 4:4.
At this stage, the Greek again did not stand up to the pressure, and made two consecutive mistakes, and after one hour and 46 minutes, Djokovic went up 0:2 in the sets after 4:7 in the tie-break.
Set numbers
Aces: Djokovic 3, Tsitsipas 4
Double faults: Djokovic 2, Tsitsipas 1
Winners: Djokovic 10, Tsitsipas 13 Uncommitted
errors: Djokovic 713 Tsitsipas 17 Break
opportunities: Djokovic 0 from 0, Tsitsipas 0 from 1
Total points: Djokovic 41, Tsitsipas 40
moments of frustration.
Tsitsipas (Photo: GettyImages, WILLIAM WEST/AFP)
Comes to every ball.
Djokovic (Photo: GettyImages, Clive Brunskill)
Tried to fight and excite himself.
Tsitsipas (Photo: Reuters)
Third set - 6:7 for Djokovic (5:7)
Djokovic went to the dressing room for a break after going 0:2 in the sets, but the one who came back sharper is Tsitsipas, who managed to get the first break in the match and take a 0:1 lead , when the net also helps him a little with a lucky strike.
The Greek, unfortunately, was unable to maintain the momentum, and Djokovic again displayed an impressive defensive game, reaching every ball to frustrate his opponent, and leveled at 1:1 with a quick counter break.
Both tennis players continued to maintain their serve, with the Greek repeatedly managing to equalize and withstand the pressure.
In the tenth game, Djokovic was in a situation of 30:30, two points away from the championship, but the Greek managed to equalize at 5:5.
Djokovic again gave a dominant service game, and went up 5:6 with a game on zero, but again the Greek came back and forced another tiebreaker.
As expected, Djokovic opened the tiebreaker strongly, achieved two quick mini breaks, won five consecutive points and went up 0:5.
However, the Greek did not give up, and with 3 consecutive points shrunk to 5:3, including a long rally, but the Serbian fought back and rose to 3:6 with three game points.
Tsitsipas with two strong serves managed to stay in the game and saved two match points, but Nola again delivered a deadly forehand on the line, which Tsitsipas sent out, and after 2 hours and 56 minutes - the title again goes to the champion.
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tennis
Tags
Novak Djokovic
Stephanus Tsitsipas
