MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic climbed into the Rod Laver enviornment stands to have a good time his tenth Australian Open championship and report-tying twenty second Grand Slam title Sunday and, after leaping and pumping his fists collectively with his crew, he collapsed onto his again, crying.
When he returned to the having fun with floor, Djokovic sat on his sideline bench, buried his face in a white towel and sobbed some extra.
This journey to Australia was a lot extra worthwhile than the one a yr in the past — when he was deported as a consequence of he was not vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19 — although troublesome in its personal methods: a foul hamstring; some off-court docket tumult involving his father. but Djokovic achieved all he might have probably needed in his return: He resumed his worthwhile methods at Melbourne Park and made it again to the very larger of tennis, declaring: “This in all likelihood is the, i might say, largest victory of my life.”
solely briefly challenged inside the closing, Djokovic was merely larger on primarily the most important moments and beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-three, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5). As a bonus, Djokovic will vault from No. 5 to No. 1 inside the ATP rankings, a spot he already has held for extra weeks than every completely different man.
“This has been truly one of many important difficult tournaments I’ve ever performed in my life, contemplating the circumstances. Not having fun with final yr; coming again this yr,” Djokovic acknowledged, sporting a zipper-up white jacket with a “22” on his chest. “and that i truly ought to thank all of the people who made me really feel welcome, made me really feel comfy, to be in Melbourne, to be in Australia.”
The 35-yr-previous from Serbia stretched his unbeaten streak in Melbourne to twenty-eight matches, the longest run there inside the Open period, which dates to 1968. He supplies trophy No. 10 to the seven from Wimbledon, three from the US Open — the place he additionally was absent final yr as a consequence of of not getting the coronavirus vaccine — and two from the French Open, to match rival Rafael Nadal for primarily the most by a particular person.
solely two women — Margaret court docket, with 24, and Serena Williams, with 23 — are forward of him.
This was additionally the 93rd ATP tour-stage title for Djokovic, breaking a tie with Nadal for the fourth most.
“i would like to thanks for pushing our sport thus far,” Tsitsipas advised Djokovic.
“he is the best,” Tsitsipas acknowledged, “that has ever held a tennis racket.”
Djokovic was collaborating in his thirty third most important closing, Tsitsipas in his second — and the 24-yr-previous from Greece additionally misplaced the selection, on the 2021 French Open, to Djokovic.
On a cool night beneath a cloud-crammed sky, and with a soundtrack of chants from supporters of each males prompting repeated pleas for quiet from the chair umpire, Djokovic was superior all by means of, and significantly so inside the two tiebreakers.
He took a 4-1 lead inside the most important, then reeled off the final three factors. He led 5-zero inside the closing tiebreaker and, when it accomplished, he pointed to his temple earlier than screaming, a prelude to the full tears.
“Very emotional for us. Very emotional for him,” acknowledged Djokovic’s coach, Goran Ivanisevic. “it is an unimaginable achievement. It was a very extremely effective three weeks for him. He managed to beat every little thing.”
Djokovic acknowledged that the full factors created stress for him.
“It took an limitless quantity of psychological and emotional vitality,” Djokovic acknowledged, “to primarily hold it tight, hold my focus.”
bear in thoughts: it is not as if Tsitsipas performed all that poorly, completely different than a rash of early miscues that appeared to be extra a product of rigidity than something. it is that Djokovic was too unyielding. Too right collectively with his strokes, making merely 22 unforced errors, 20 fewer than his foe. Too speedy and versatile on the run (completely different than when, transferring to his left, Djokovic took a tumble).
“I did every little thing doable,” acknowledged Tsitsipas, who additionally would have moved to No. 1 with a victory, changing Carlos Alcaraz, who sat out the Australian Open with a leg damage.
maybe. but Djokovic pushes and pushes and pushes some extra, till it is the opponent who’s one factor decrease than good on one swing, both lacking or offering a spot for Djokovic to pounce.
that is what occurred when Tsitsipas held his first break level — which was additionally a set level — whereas forward 5-4 inside the second and Djokovic serving at 30-forty. might this be a fulcrum? might Djokovic relent? might Tsitsipas surge?
Uh, no.
A 15-stroke level concluded with Djokovic smacking a crosscourt forehand winner that felt like an announcement. Two misses by Tsitsipas adopted: a backhand prolonged, a forehand vast. these felt like capitulation. Even when Tsitsipas truly did break inside the third, Djokovic broke proper again.
larger than forehands and backhands has been on Djokovic’s thoughts over the previous two weeks.
There was the not-so-small matter of final yr’s authorized saga — he has acknowledged that the full factor served as a style of motivation however in addition acknowledged the selection day, “i am over it” — and curiosity with reference to the sort of reception he would get when allowed to enter Australia as a consequence of pandemic restrictions had been eased.
He heard a ton of loud assist however in addition dealt with some persistent heckling whereas competing, collectively with applause after faults Sunday.
There was the sore left hamstring that has been closely bandaged for every match — till the closing, that is, when solely a single piece of beige athletic tape was seen.
after which there was the matter of his father, Srdjan, being filmed with a bunch waving Russian flags — one with an picture of Vladimir Putin — after Djokovic’s quarterfinal. The event banned spectators from carrying flags of Russia or Belarus, saying they’d set off disruption as a consequence of of ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Novak Djokovic and his father acknowledged Srdjan thought he was with Serbian followers.
nonetheless, Srdjan Djokovic did not attend his son’s semifinal or the closing.
“We each agreed,” acknowledged the youthful Djokovic, who did meet up with Dad for a hug after Sunday’s match, “it might in all likelihood be larger that he is not there.”
no matter all of it, Djokovic excelled — as he so usually does.
“it has been a protracted journey,” he acknowledged, “however a very particular one.”
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