After a final that he dominated, Novak Djokovic triumphed in Melbourne and won the 22nd Grand Slam title of his career. The Serb will be, from Monday, the brand new world No. 1.
2:00 p.m. – Thank you all
Thank you all for accompanying us to follow the Australian Open final and the return to the top of Novak Djokovic winner of his 22nd Grand Slam tournament against Stefanos Tsitsipas.
13:45 – Emperor Djokovic is back, the summary of the match
Inescapable! So obvious and yet so beautiful. Rarely have we seen Novak Djokovic so overwhelmed by his emotions. On the court, Tsitsipas’ last ball crashed behind the baseline and straight as i, the Serb turned to the stands and his clan, and pointed his finger at his heart and then his head. This head inside which her emotions were boiling after a trying fortnight. Going to see his clan in the stands, Djokovic dropped everything and collapsed sobbing in the midst of his family. A reaction that says it all about the storm he had to manage here in Australia, the doubts on his left thigh, the upheavals linked to the episode of his father with the Serbian supporters raising a Russian flag bearing the image of Putin, and treasures of concentration that he deployed on the court.
And this final of the Australian Open will have been a new illustration. Concentrated from start to finish, he never let up on his attention, except at the start of the third set after a long break in the locker room. He had then just snatched the previous round in the tie break not without having had to tighten the game against the rebellion of a finally enterprising and hard-hitting Tsitsipas, notably erasing a set point at 4-5. Dominant at this moment, the Greek was too wait-and-see and lacked the boldness to pick up. Who knows then how this final would have turned out if he had come back up? Perhaps he would have permanently disrupted the beautiful Serbian mechanics in the service and would have made him doubt. We will never know and he will have dragged like a cannonball his nervous and borrowed start to the match where he quickly conceded the break without ever seeing the start of an opportunity to come back (72% of first ball for Djokovic and 94% of points won behind in the first set).
In orbit, reinforced by his two sets lead, he who has only suffered the affront of being beaten in this case once in his career (in 2010 in the quarter-finals of Roland-Garros), Djokovic tried to put pressure as soon as he could on his return games in a third act where he lined up 4 consecutive shutouts as if to forbid his opponent from dreaming. If he failed to break again, he waited for the decisive game to once again show his solidity. As in the previous one, Tsitsipas started too softly, multiplied the faults and let the Serb come off 5-0. If he came back to 5-6 in a good effort, he only delayed the deadline, symbol of a match where he was constantly reacting but never really in the right tempo and unable to find lasting solutions to destabilize the opposing defense and make doubt the strong man of Melbourne. On his 42 unforced errors (against 22 for Djokovic), he let his dream of a first Grand Slam title and to become world No. 1 slip away. Instead, he had to settle for seeing the Serb lift his 22nd major trophy, the 10th here in Melbourne where he confirmed he was untouchable (no defeat in the final). This blue surface which made him prince 15 years ago (against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga) and which today makes him king. After a trying fortnight psychologically and physically, but traversed with astonishing ease on the court, Djokovic has resumed the thread of a career opened up by the health crisis. Here he is again at the top. Alone, all alone on his planet.
13:17 – Djokovic: “One of the most difficult tournaments I’ve played in my career”
“It was one of the most difficult tournaments I played in my career because of the circumstances, the last very difficult weeks with my family, the fact that I had not been able to play here last year”explained Novak Djokovic looking serious and enigmatic.
13:12 – Djokovic addresses the children
“I was very touched by the words of Stefano (Tsitsipas). We are fierce opponents on the court but off the court we recognize our value and it’s not your last Grand Slam final, I’m sure”returned the courtesy Djokovic before sending a message to children dreaming of tennis. “To the young players who dream of being there, keep dreaming and don’t let anyone make you think it’s impossible. No matter where you come from, whatever difficulties you encounter, it will only make you stronger. “
13:10 – Return to the throne
Deprived of Wimbledon points, absent at the Australian Open and the US Open in 2022, Novak Djokovic regains control of world tennis thanks to this 10th title in Melbourne, at the expense of Carlos Alcaraz, package before the tournament for wound.
13:05 – Tsitsipas’ tribute to Djokovic
“Novak, I don’t know what to say except to congratulate you for everything you have achieved. I admire what you have done on the court, your whole journey and you help me to become better. Thank you for pushing our sport. You are one of the best players in history.”first paid tribute to Stefanos Tsitsipas, in a monotonous tone really affected by his defeat before adding. “It’s tough but I will keep working hard to come back.”
13:00 – A record crowd
No less than 45,832 people attended the Australian Olpen final between Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Much more than the 31,020 of the previous record in 2020. In total, over the fortnight, 839,192 walked the aisles of Melbourne Park.
????45,832 fans were at the Australian Open for today’s twilight session; a final Sunday attendance record, smashing the previous final Sunday record of 31,020 fans (in 2020). pic.twitter.com/nXE6tKbNhX
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2023
12:53 – Djokovic equals Nadal
By dominating Stefanos Tsitsipas, Novak Djokovic wins his 22nd Grand Slam title and returns to match Rafael Nadal in this mad race in Majors. On this occasion, he also becomes the second player in history to win 10 titles in the same Grand Slam tournament, after the Spaniard (14 Roland-Garros).
12:43 – Djokovic, Melbourne’s invincible!
On a final acceleration of a crossed forehand, he forced Tsitsipas to make the mistake in length. Turning to the audience, pointing his head with his index finger, Djokovic won his 10th title in Melbourne and his 22nd Grand Slam title (6/3 7/6 7/6 in 2h56′). The Serb will never have trembled in a match where he gave the impression of mastering everything, controlling everything with great concentration and application.
12:42 – 5-6 Tsitsipas
Big first ball from Tsitsipas who scores on his second shot and dismisses a second match point. He reacted well in this tie break, scoring 5 of the last 6 points.
12:41 – 4-6 Tsitsipas
After a very long first ball, Tsitsipas opts for the service to the body and Djokovic sends his return into the hallway.
12:40 – 6-3 Djokovic
Tsitsipas is not bloody enough on his return and lets Djokovic take control and advance in the court to afford three match points with a released forehand.
12:39 – 3-5 Tsitsipas
Huge exchange between Tsitsipas and Djokovic. More relaxed, the Greek holds out on his rival both diagonally from backhand and forehand and then takes the initiative by breaking the rhythm and bringing the Serb to the net to score the point.
12:38 – 2-5 Tsitsipas
Winning service from Tsitsipas who offers himself a free point, finally.
12:37 – 1-5 Tsitsipas
After a committed exchange, Djokovic is distracted by a cry from the stands and decenters his slice, which ends up in the hallway. The Serb is surprised by the situation but does not add to it.
12:36 – 5-0 Djokovic
Tsitsipas is not there in this tie break and suffers completely. His service return is neutral and allows Djokovic’s long line attack, which the Greek fails to straighten, his backhand dying in the net.
12:35 – 4-0 Djokovic
Behind a big first ball, Djokovic presses hard on the forehand and forces Tsitsipas to make a mistake on his delivery.
12:34 – 3-0 Djokovic
Tsitsipas loses control of his forehand trying to send it into the uncrossed diagonal. Double mini break for Djokovic.
12:34 – 2-0 Djokovic
On a second ball that was too high and soft, Djokovic shifted and struck a winning forehand along the line.
12:33 – 1-0 Djokovic
Djokovic serves on the backhand of Tsitsipas who can’t get the ball back.
12:30 – Tsitsipas goes to the tie break (6/6)
After a point redacted by an ill-adjusted forehand, Tsitsipas surprises Djokovic at the T and equalizes at 6 everywhere. This third set will be played on a tie break.
12:28 – New shutout from Djokovic (6/5)
Djokovic is untouchable on his serve in this third act. With a winning service, he completes his 4th shutout in a row. He won the last 17 points disputed on his face-off.
12:25 – Tsitsipas does not disarm (5/5)
While Djokovic had returned to 30-30 and we felt the public waiting for a potential match point, Tsitsipas came to the net to score the next point before returning with an ace.
12:21 – Tsitsipas applies
Tsitsipas has control of the rally and slides a very clean and strong slice down the line. Djokovic makes the mistake by wanting to raise it.
12:18 – Djokovic one game away from the title (5/4)
New immaculate game for Djokovic whose last backhand long line bites the angle from the baseline. He is just one game away from winning his 10th Australian Open title and his 22nd Grand Slam.