Novak Djokovic beat Stefanos Tsitsipas to win his tenth Australian Open name and equivalent Rafael Nadal’s 22 Grand Slam crowns on Sunday — an fulfillment that he dubbed “the biggest victory in my life”.
The Serbian will go back to international #1, too, as he swept previous the Greek 3rd seed 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5) on Rod Laver Arena.
After the victory, the 35-year-old climbed to the participant’s field to embody his mom and brother and broke down in tears, collapsing to the bottom sobbing.
His father, Srdjan, was once lacking from the target audience after he was once filmed previous with a gaggle of folks with Russian flags — one with a picture of Vladimir Putin — after Djokovic’s quarterfinal victory, sparking controversy.
The victory over Tsitsipas capped a exceptional go back for Djokovic to Melbourne Park after he was once deported from Australia remaining yr as a result of he was once now not vaccinated towards COVID-19.
“I have to say this has been one of the most challenging tournaments I’ve ever played considering the circumstances, not playing last year, coming back this year,” he stated.
“I want to thank all the people that made me feel welcome, to be comfortable, to be in Melbourne, to be in Australia.”
“I try to pinch myself and really live through these moments. It’s a long journey,” Djokovic added.
“Only my team and family know what we have been through in the last four or five weeks, and this is why I’d probably say this is the biggest victory in my life considering the circumstances.”
After his three-year ban from Australia was once lifted, Djokovic stretched his unbeaten streak in Melbourne to twenty-eight suits, the longest run on the match for a person within the Open technology courting again to 1968.
He added his Melbourne trophy quantity 10 to the seven from Wimbledon, 3 from the United States Open and two on the French Open, matching his rival Nadal for essentially the most by way of a person in tennis historical past.
Margaret Court, with 24, Serena Williams, 23, and Steffi Graf, 22, have essentially the most amongst girls.
This was once additionally the 93rd ATP tour-level name for Djokovic, permitting the 35-year-old from Serbia to damage a tie with Nadal for the fourth maximum titles. Jimmy Connors nonetheless holds that document at 109.
Djokovic was once collaborating in his thirty third main ultimate, Tsitsipas in his 2nd.
He was once awesome all over the fit towards the Greek, particularly within the two tiebreakers.
Djokovic took a 4-1 lead within the first and after it was once 4-all, pulled off 3 issues in a row.
He then led 5-0 within the ultimate tiebreaker. After successful the matchpoint, he pointed to his temple, climbed into the stands, pumped his fist and jumped along with his trainer Goran Ivanisevic and different entourage participants, and collapsed, delighted.
