Novak Djokovic is still the master in Australia. Opposed in the final to the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, Sunday January 29, the Serb won in three sets (6-3, 7-6 [4]7-6 [3]). The “Djoker” wins a tenth title in ten finals played in Melbourne and returns to the height of the Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the race for the Grand Slams, with 22 coronations.
The king is back. Private from the Australian Open last year after a geopolitical and health showdown due to his vaccination status, Novak Djokovic was able to compete in this 2023 edition, thanks to the easing of measures in the country. And, once again, he left his opponents only crumbs. The Serb, titled for the first time here in 2008 against the Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, added a tenth Australian crown to his immense record.
His opponent in the final, Stefanos Tsitsipas, was not favored by the bookmakers. The Greek, led 10-2 in his direct confrontations with his elder, did not seem able to stop the Serbian machine. And indeed, he did not find the right formula. The ogre of Belgrade, which rose in power in this fortnight, was too strong.
Helpless Tsitsipas
With the elimination of the defending champion, Rafael Nadal, in the second round, the race for records was a little more relaunched for Novak Djokovic. If he beat Stefanos Tsitsipas, he came back up to the Spaniard with 22 Grand Slam titles. Over-motivated, “Nole” entered foot to the floor in this final played in the Rod Laver Arena
Sure of himself, of his strength and his left thigh, affected at the start of the tournament but well recovered since, the world number five dictated the entry game and pocketed the first set with authority, in the space of a big half hour. A first ascendancy was taken, while in the stands, the Greek and Serbian supporters, who came in large numbers – Australia has many nationals of these two countries – gave voice.
First jostled, Stefanos Tsitsipas reacted in the second set. The Athenian found rhythm and fired much better shots. Result: the two men played on an equal footing and the final suddenly appeared more balanced. The world number four even got a set point, 5-4 and 40-30 in his favor. But Novak Djokovic did not give in and took over behind in the tie break.
Djokovic back on the throne and up to Nadal
With a two-set advantage to zero, the Serb was on the royal road to the title. It floated in the air like a scent of inevitability when, after a usual locker room break, the “Djoker” returned to the court. Stefanos Tsitsipas may have put his heart into it, his opponent always seemed to have a shot up his sleeve to keep control of the debates.
Finally, three sets will have been enough to decide between the two men. Novak Djokovic won the last set in the tie break again. Less comfortable than on clay, Tsitsipas lost for his second Grand Slam final, after losing at Roland-Garros in 2021 against … Djokovic, already. Representative of the new wave of the little yellow ball, the Greek is not yet strong enough to defeat the Serbian legend.
It’s a day of celebration for Novak Djokovic, more than ever in the history of tennis and more particularly the Australian Open. With this tenth coronation, “Nole”, 35, will dislodge Carlos Alcaraz from world number one on Monday. And so here he is with 22 Grand Slam titles (10 at the Australian Open, 7 at Wimbledon, 3 at the US Open and 2 at Roland-Garros), like his great rival Rafael Nadal. We can’t wait to be in Paris for the next Roland-Garros, where one of these two giants may once again take the lead over the other.