CNN
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The result was known, the ease with which it came about somewhat surprising. The historical implications of this match certainly didn’t faze Novak Djokovic, as the Serb defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets to win a 10th Australian Open title and a record-tying 22nd grand slam.
After achieving the 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) victory, Djokovic went to the players box and sobbed uncontrollably, the meaning and emotion of his performance overcame him. Even when he returned to his seat on the field, Djokovic hid his face in a towel as the television cameras picked up the sound of his incessant crying.
Last year, Djokovic was unable to defend his title after being expelled from the country due to his vaccination status against Covid-19. This year at Melbourne Park he had a hamstring injury and had to deal with the fallout from his father, Srdjan, filmed with a group of Russian supporters at the Australian Open.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Djokovic described this win as “the biggest win of my life”.
“This has been one of the more challenging tournaments I’ve ever played in my life, given the circumstances,” he said.
“Not playing last year, coming back this year. I want to thank all the people who made me feel welcome, made me feel comfortable. Only the team and the family know what we’ve been through in the last four to five weeks and this is the biggest win of my life under those circumstances.”
The stats are amazing, the quality and consistency of his tennis even more so. Djokovic last lost at the 2018 Australian Open on a 28-match winning streak. At this tournament he only lost one set.
Both Djokovic and Rafael Nadal now share the men’s record for major wins, with Djokovic becoming only the second man to win more than 10 titles in one stroke. The other is, yes, Nadal, who has won the French Open 14 times.
Undoubtedly, the two men are all-time greats, not just in their sport, but in every sport. Which is the largest? That battle and that debate is ongoing, and tennis is the benefactor.
The victory over Tsitsipas in Melbourne, lasting just under three hours, also returned Djokovic to the top of the men’s world rankings, a spot he will occupy for a record-extending 374th week.
Tsitsipas, who is playing in his second Grand Slam final, the first of which also ended in defeat to Djokovic at the French Open, can take heart that he is not the first player to be outplayed by the 35-year-old Serb. big occasion.
The Greek’s service was under pressure from the start. He fell 15-40 in the second game, but came through to tie the first set at 1-1, but once Djokovic broke in the fourth game, not only did he feel like the set would come to an inevitable end achieve, but so did the match. .
Tsitsipas, the third seed, put up a stronger fight in the second set, the unforced errors were reduced, the serve became more powerful and he earned a set point, but it was Djokovic who was victorious in the 15-shot rally that followed. And then the chance was over. Forehand errors would ruin Tsitsipas’ chances in the tiebreaker that decided the set.
An immediate stoppage of service by Tsitsipas in the third set suggested that the match was about to turn, but Djokovic immediately broke back. Once again it took a tieberak to separate the pair, with Djokovic reigning supreme this time – going 5-0 ahead before claiming three championship points.
When Tsitsipas hit a long return, the title was secured for Djokovic. The Serb looked at his team and relatives – his father Srdjan was not present – and pointed to his head and heart. And then the tears came.
In the end, Tsitsipas’ 42 unforced fouls proved costly as he was able to secure just one of three break points, opportunities he had to seize to really test the Serb.
For now, the man remains tipped to be one of the players who will succeed in the big two men’s tennis in the shadows.
