Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas - LIVE: Australian Open result as emotional Djokovic wins 22nd grand slam
Follow live reaction as Djokovic triumphed 6-3, 7-6, 7-6 over Tsitsipas to equal Rafael Nadal’s men’s singles grand slam titles record
Novak Djokovic defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas to win a 10th Australian Open and move level with Rafael Nadal on a men’s record 22 grand slam titles.
The Serbian was deported from Australia 12 months ago amid a political storm over his exemption for the Covid vaccine, but has made a triumphant return to the court with a historic victory on Rod Laver Arena.
The 35-year-old defeated Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6, 7-6 in just under three hours to maintain his perfect record in Australian Open finals. Djokovic has now won all 10 of his showpiece appearances in Melbourne and extends his winning streak at Melbourne Park to 28 matches.
It also moves Djokovic level with Nadal in the grand slam race, after the Spaniard edged ahead by winning the Australian Open in Djokovic’s absence and the French Open to reach a men’s record 22 titles.
Follow live reaction from the Australian Open men’s final, below:
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-6 Stefanos Tsitsipas - Tiebreak!
Here we go, but Tsitsipas starts with a poor forehand miss from the baseline, and on serve! 1-0
Great response from Tsitsipas - he takes on a backhand down the line and moves into the court to put away the smash as Djokovic stretched. 1-1
First serve Djokovic - forehand winner Djokovic. 2-1.
Another poor forehand miss from Tsitsipas! Djokovic clips the top of the net but Tsitsipas was wild from the baseline. 3-1
Then the return from Djokovic plants onto the baseline, leading to another forehand miss from Tsitsipas into the net! 4-1
Tsitsipas makes a good return to the baseline and Djokovic, off balance, gives Tsitsipas a chance. 4-2
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-6 Stefanos Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas gives up a couple of cheap points on forehand errors, allowing Djokovic to get to 30-0.
There’s a double fault from Djokovic on 40-0, his first...
Tsitsipas goes on the attack, forcing Djokovic to net.
But then Tsitsipas nets on the forehand, and we’re off to a tiebreak!
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 5-6 Stefanos Tsitsipas
A love hold for Tsitsipas! Just what was needed. Djokovic will need to serve to stay in it again.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 5-5 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
Djokovic throws another error long and for the third service game in a row, Tsitsipas will have a look at 15-30.
Big error from Tsitsipas! A woeful mishit on the forehand crosscourt.
But Djokovic pushes wide on the backhand down the line!
Tsitsipas gets his first break point of the match, and it’s a set point!
There are cheers at Djokovic missing the first serve...
And it’s followed by a tense baseline rally! Tsitsipas maybe isn’t aggressive enough, and Djokovic steps in to put the forehand winner down the line!
Deuce. Long from Tsitsipas!
And Tsitsipas can’t control the forehand!
Djokovic escapes!
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 4-5 Stefanos Tsitsipas
Another big hold from Tsitsipas, after he jumped to a 40-0 lead. Tsitsipas has deserved to get to five games. His serving iswell up, allowing the forehand to come in, which he is hitting freely and is allowing him to take positions inside the baseline.
Djokovic, who looks irritated, will now serve to stay in the set.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 4-4 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
Tsitsipas arrows in a forehand as Djokovic, off balance, hacks a forehand wide. It’s another chance at 15-30, as Tsitsipas presses for his first break point of the match.
Djokovic clips the netcord and as Tsitsipas comes in, he just pushes his slices long.
30-30: Tsitsipas comes up with a brilliant angle on the backhand, and again comes into the net. But he can’t make the backhand volley, and it crashes into the net!
40-30: wide from Tsitsipas on the backhand.
Djokovic gets the hold. These are big, big moments and Tsitsipas must hold on if he is to have a chance.
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 3-4 Stefanos Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas looks to fire up his fans with an opening winner, but Djokovic locks in with two forehand returns and forces his opponent to look at him on 15-30.
Big point for Tsitsipas, and as he sends the backhand winner past Djokovic the Serbian stumbles and falls to the ground!
He looks to be ok, but Tsitsipas will take some belief in sending his opponent running. He powers a forehand winner, and then takes charge of the following point with more aggresive play.
But Djokovic hangs in on the defence, and Tsitsipas can’t put away the volley at the net!
Deuce. Oof. Tsitsipas comes into the net again and clips the line with the driven forehand. Djokovic turns to his box in fury.
And Tsitsipas gets a big hold! He directs a backhand at Djokovic’s feet and he can’t make the pick-up volley.
Djokovic looks edgy all of a sudden.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 3-3 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
Djokovic dropped the first point on serve for the first time in the match, but is able to put his foot down and stroll away with the hold. Tsitisipas is not able to do enough with the returns but Djokovic’s accuracy is unerring.
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 2-3 Stefanos Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas stretches on the and suddenly is faced with a reverse of the 15-30 Djokovic had on the previous game.
The Greek lets out a roar as he forces Djokovic to miss in the exchange of forehands crosscourt, and then finds a first serve.
A costly double fault drags him to deuce, but Tsitsipas gets out of trouble with a forehand winner crosscourt. Djokovic looked frustrated with his return on the deuce point.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 2-2 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
Interesting... Djokovic makes two unforced errors in a row and after 50 minutes of play Tsitsipas is allowed a look at his opponent’s serve.
Djokovic takes over the point on the second serve, moving in to put away the smash. He did so again on 30-30, with a good first serve being followed by the attack to the Tsitsipas backhand.
Ace, and Tsitsipas has the door slammed in his face.
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