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 1-0 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
Tsitsipas fires wide on the first return, then Djokovic plants a winner crosscourt. It’s followed by his first ace and although he shrugs at an error, he shakes it off with another forehand winner.
Some start.
The atmosphere is boisterous, you would say.
*denotes next server
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Djokovic has removed the heavy strapping around his left leg that he was wearing in the earlier rounds...
The nine-time champion will serve first. Here we go!
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Here come the players! Tsitsipas is out on court first, followed by Djokovic. What a noise inside the Rod Laver Arena, it’s more like a World Cup match than a grand slam final.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
- Nine Australian Open final wins in a row...
- 27 Australian Open wins in a row...
- Unbeaten on Rod Laver Arena since 2018
- A 22nd grand slam title on the line
The small task facing Stefanos Tsitsipas today, as Novak Djokovic bids for tennis history.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Djokovic vs Tsitsipas is also a clash of two passionate groups of tennis supporters: Serbia and Greece. Both sets of fans make the presence known at the Australian Open and it could be a crazy atmosphere in the Rod Laver Arena today.
“Both Greece and Serbia have put the map with tennis as a big contender in big events,” Tsitsipas said. “Serbia is also a very small country, just like Greece. They have produced a lot of good players. Someone that has led the country when it came to tennis. Not a very big country. I hope we in Greece can achieve the same thing they have in recent years, win multiple Grand Slams.”
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Djokovic and Tsitsipas have, without doubt, been the two best players so far in Melbourne, which can be see by the dominance of their scorelines through to the final. Only Tsitsipas, against Jannik Sinner in the fourth round, was pushed to five sets.
Djokovic route to final:
1st round: 6-3 6-4 6-0 vs Carballes Baena
2nd round: 6-1 6-7 6-2 6-0 vs Couacaud
3rd round: 7-6 6-3 6-4 vs Dimitrov
4th round: 6-2 6-1 6-2 vs De Minaur (22)
Quarters: 6-1 6-2 6-4 vs Rublev (5)
Semis: 7-5 6-1 6-2 vs Paul
Tsitsipas route to final:
1st round: 6-3 6-3 7-6 vs Halys
2nd round: 6-3 6-0 6-2 vs Hijikata
3rd round: 6-2 7-6 6-3 vs Griekspoor
4th round: 6-4 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-3 vs Sinner (15)
Quarters: 6-3 7-6 6-4 vs Lehecka
Semis: 7-6 6-4 7-6 6-3 vs Khachanov (18)
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Novak Djokovic has won his last nine matches against Stefanos Tsitsipas, including in the 2021 French Open final.
Tsitsipas was two sets up in the final but Djokovic fought from two sets down in a grand slam final for the first time in his career.
Asked about the final this week, Tsitsipas joked: “I don’t remember”.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Novak Djokovic said before the semi-finals that his bid for the Australian Open was being fuelled by his deportation from the country last year.
“I don’t think that I lack determination,” Djokovic said. “I always try to give my best, particularly in Grand Slams, because at this stage of my career those are the tournaments that count the most, of course.
“But you could say that there is something extra this year, yeah. You could say because of the injury, what happened last year. I just wanted to really do well.
“So far I have a perfect score in Australian hard courts, in Adelaide and here. I’ve been playing better and better. I couldn’t ask for a better situation to be in at the moment.”
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Novak Djokovic ahead of the Australian Open final: “This is exactly what I’ve imagined and hoped that will happen when I came to Australia, with intention to be in a position to fight for another Australian Open trophy.
“I think that the experience of being in this particular situation and circumstances before helps. I think also the fact that I never lost the Australian Open finals definitely serves as a great confidence booster prior to Sunday. But, of course, still the job needs to be done on the court.
I’m going to play against Tsitsipas, who is in a great shape, great form, has been playing some of his best tennis. I’m sure that he’s going to be very motivated to win his first Grand Slam title.
“I know his game pretty well. He knows my game well. We played several times in different surfaces. We played in one Grand Slam finals, was on clay, though, in Roland Garros some years ago.”
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas on playing the World No 1 position in the Australian Open final: “I remember watching it on TV saying to myself, I want to be there one day myself. I want to recreate that feeling for me. I knew that’s a very long journey to get there.
“There are certain steps you have to take to give yourself the chance to be competing for something like this. But I very much believed it. I very much believed it. First of all, it’s your ego that speaks. You either have it or not, you know? As a kid, I was very confident.
“Thank God I was good in my country. Starting from that, I knew if I’m able to get out of my country and compete in other countries, European leagues, European tours, I proved myself over and over again that I’m actually good. I did finish as a junior No. 1. Now I want to do it in the men’s side, in the men’s professional tennis.”
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