Novak Djokovic beat Stefanos Tsitsipas to win his tenth Australian Open title and equal Rafael Nadal’s 22 Grand Slam crowns on Sunday — an achievement that he dubbed “the largest victory in my life”.
The Serbian will return to world #1, too, as he swept previous the Greek third seed 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5) on Rod Laver Enviornment.
After the victory, the 35-year-old climbed to the participant’s field to embrace his mom and brother and broke down in tears, collapsing to the bottom sobbing.
His father, Srdjan, was lacking from the viewers after he was filmed earlier with a gaggle of individuals with Russian flags — one with a picture of Vladimir Putin — after Djokovic’s quarterfinal victory, sparking controversy.
The victory over Tsitsipas capped a exceptional return for Djokovic to Melbourne Park after he was deported from Australia final yr as a result of he was not vaccinated towards COVID-19.
“I’ve to say this has been one of the difficult tournaments I’ve ever performed contemplating the circumstances, not taking part in final yr, coming again this yr,” he mentioned.
“I need to thank all of the folks that made me really feel welcome, to be snug, to be in Melbourne, to be in Australia.”
“I attempt to pinch myself and actually dwell by way of these moments. It is a lengthy journey,” Djokovic added.
“Solely my group and household know what now we have been by way of within the final 4 or 5 weeks, and for this reason I might in all probability say that is the largest victory in my life contemplating the circumstances.”
After his three-year ban from Australia was lifted, Djokovic stretched his unbeaten streak in Melbourne to twenty-eight matches, the longest run on the event for a person within the Open period courting again to 1968.
He added his Melbourne trophy quantity 10 to the seven from Wimbledon, three from the US Open and two on the French Open, matching his rival Nadal for probably the most by a person in tennis historical past.
Margaret Court docket, with 24, Serena Williams, 23, and Steffi Graf, 22, have probably the most amongst girls.
This was additionally the 93rd ATP tour-level title for Djokovic, permitting the 35-year-old from Serbia to interrupt a tie with Nadal for the fourth most titles. Jimmy Connors nonetheless holds that document at 109.
Djokovic was taking part in his thirty third main ultimate, Tsitsipas in his second.
He was superior all through the match towards the Greek, particularly within the two tiebreakers.
Djokovic took a 4-1 lead within the first and after it was 4-all, pulled off three factors in a row.
He then led 5-0 within the closing tiebreaker. After profitable the matchpoint, he pointed to his temple, climbed into the stands, pumped his fist and jumped along with his coach Goran Ivanisevic and different entourage members, and collapsed, overjoyed.
