Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic defeats Stefanos Tsitsipas to win 10th title in Melbourne
Djokovic defeated the Greek star in straight sets to equal Rafael Nadal's record of 22 men's Grand Slam singles titles and return to number one in the world rankings.
Tennis
Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open for the 10th time to equal Rafael Nadal's record of 22 men's Grand Slam singles titles.
The Serbian star beat Greek third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) on Sunday (January 29) in Melbourne Park, returning to the world number one ranking for the first time since last June.
After two hours and 56 minutes, Djokovic converted his third match point to further cement his reputation as one of the all-time tennis greats.
When Tsitsipas sent his backhand long, Djokovic pointed to his head and then his heart before walking calmly to the net to shake hands with his opponent.
But his emotions overcame him as he climbed up into the players' box, crying openly as he was mobbed by his entourage with the tears continuing as he walked back to the court.
"I played my best tennis at Australian Open. Only the team and the family knows what we have been through in the last five, six weeks and I can say this is the biggest victory of my career." - Novak Djokovic
Djokovic continues Melbourne reign
Djokovic, without the heavy strapping on his left leg he wore for most of the tournament, had the excellent start on the court at Rod Laver Arena he knows so well.
Tsitsipas saved two break points in his opening service game, but he could not resist as Djokovic piled on the pressure to break for a 3-1 lead.
The 35-year-old dominated and went on to take the first set 6-3.
The atmosphere was like that of a football match at times with large Greek and Serbian contingents in the crowd, and Tsitsipas delighted the former by upping his game in the second set.
He brought up a set point on Djokovic's serve, but the Serb saved it before forcing a tiebreak.
Both players struggled to win points on serve in the breaker, but it was Djokovic who took it 7-4 to leave himself one set from victory.
Tsitsipas was not done yet, breaking Djokovic's serve for the first time at the start of the third set.
But Djokovic broke back immediately with both players rock-solid on serve after that meaning a second tiebreak.
A 10th title looked inevitable as Djokovic raced into a 5-0 lead, but Tsitsipas fought back well and saved two match points.
But he could not save match point number three as Djokovic - who missed last year's tournament due to a Covid vaccine controversy - took his record win streak at the Australian Open to 28.
Novak Djokovic's route to the AO2023 final
Djokovic has never lost in the final or the semi-finals at the Australian Open.
He maintained that record on Sunday against a player he was meeting for the second time in a major final. Djokovic rallied from two sets down to defeat the Greek and claim the French Open title in 2021.
The tennis superstar beat USA's Tommy Paul in the last four in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1, 6-2, to book his spot in the final.
Beijing 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Djokovic marched past Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals 6-1, 6-2, 6-4, to reach his 10th semi-final at Melbourne Park and his 44th in Grand Slams.
Djokovic, who went to Melbourne as the world number five, beat Roberto Carballes Baena, Enzo Couacaud, Grigor Dimitrov and home hope Alex de Minaur in previous rounds.