Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic has claimed a historic 10th title at Melbourne Park, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas to equal Rafael Nadal's record of 22 grand slams.

Since his first grand slam title here 15 years ago, when a 20-year-old from Belgrade first began to achieve his dreams, Djokovic has won every grand slam and Masters 1000 event multiple times. Among many things, this tournament has underlined Djokovic’s ability to block out all outside issues and focus on his work on the court. He sealed victory with one final vicious forehand, then he pointed at his head and a heart. During the most consequential moment of the match, Djokovic was ultra-aggressive with his forehand, crushing an inside-in forehand winner and punishing Tsitsipas’ tentativeness. Tsitsipas recovered from 0-40 down in his first service game, but Djokovic’s return pressure yielded a double fault at 1-1, sealing the decisive break. He equals Nadal’s all-time men’s singles record of 22 grand slam titles, with the 10th crown at Melbourne Park a peerless marker of his dominance.

Djokovic defeated Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) to claim a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title.

Djokovic took a 4-1 lead in the first and after it was 4-all, pulled off the last three points. His 10th trophy in Australia adds to the record he already held. “I have to say this has been the most challenging tournament I have played in my life …

Only briefly challenged in the final, Djokovic was simply better at the most crucial moments and beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5). As a bonus, ...

Djokovic and his father said Srdjan thought he was with Serbian fans. “And I want to thank all the people that made me feel welcome, made me feel comfortable, to be in Melbourne, to be in Australia.” He took a 4-1 lead in the first, then reeled off the last three points. The tournament banned spectators from carrying flags of Russia or Belarus, saying they would cause disruption because of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Yet Djokovic accomplished all he could have possibly wanted in his return: He resumed his winning ways at [Melbourne Park](https://apnews.com/article/sports-elena-rybakina-aryna-sabalenka-australian-open-tennis-ecdf852ed04ec0c888e061710693f543) and made it back to the top of tennis, declaring: "This probably is the, I would say, biggest victory of my life." “I did everything possible,” said Tsitsipas, who also would have moved to No. 10 to the seven from Wimbledon, three from the U.S. Two misses by Tsitsipas followed: A backhand long, a forehand wide. The 35-year-old from Serbia stretched his unbeaten streak in Melbourne to 28 matches, the longest run there in the Open era, which dates to 1968. Keep in mind: It's not as though Tsitsipas played all that poorly, other than a rash of early miscues that seemed to be more a product of tension than anything. Might Djokovic relent? Open — where he also was absent last year because of no coronavirus shots — and two from the French Open, to match rival Rafael Nadal for the most by a man.

A sublime 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas saw Novak Djokovic claim a record-extending 10th Australian Open title; the win also put ...

"I think in the end also what he told me is that it's important that I feel good on the court, I win the match, and he's here for me. I had a better opponent on the other side of the net who did things much better than me. In the end we have a happy ending." I still have a lot of motivation. I don't want to stop here, I feel great about my tennis. "I still have a lot of motivation.

Novak Djokovic lands a record-extending 10th Australian Open mens singles title to equal Rafael Nadals all-time record for most Grand Slam mens singles ...

The 24-year-old said: "Novak I don't know what to say, I think it speaks for itself what you have achieved so far. These are the matches I've been working my entire life for. I admire what you have done for our sport, I think you make me a better player. I want to thank all the people that made me feel welcome, made me feel comfortable to be in Melbourne, to be in Australia. Only my team and my family know what we've been through in the last four, five weeks. "There's a reason I've played my best tennis on this court.

Serb equals Nadal record a year after Australia deportation and says: 'Only my team and family know what I have been through'

In the end we have a happy ending,” Djokovic said. After the final, Djokovic broke down in tears while embracing his team in his player box. Despite dealing with a hamstring issue since the start of the tournament, Djokovic dropped just one set in his seven matches.

Deported a year ago and unable to play in 2022's first Grand Slam tournament, Djokovic deeply felt this major title, his 22nd, calling it “a huge relief.”

A little more than a year ago, he and Ivanisevic were at Melbourne Airport, being escorted to their plane out of the country. 1 for the first time with a first major title, did not look quite as crestfallen as he did after losing a two-set lead to Djokovic in the 2021 French Open final. “I think tennis is in good hands with great characters, great personalities and great players, but we’re still not going anywhere.” He and Nadal, who won the Australian Open in Djokovic’s absence last year, are back in a tie with 22 Grand Slam singles titles apiece. Like Federer, whose wife Mirka’s support on the home front and on the road with their young children allowed him to compete successfully on tour into his late 30s, Djokovic’s wife, Jelena, is giving him the same flexibility with their young son and daughter. And however full circle it all felt in Melbourne on Sunday night, Djokovic is hardly done searching for more titles, more ways to win. But the reality for Tsitsipas is that Djokovic won that first Grand Slam title in 2008 in Melbourne at age 20 and won four more majors before he turned 25. Instead, whether he realized it or not, he tried to take a page on Sunday night from Djokovic’s early-career playbook: when the Serb was getting beaten repeatedly by more established champions like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Djokovic explained that his father had intended to celebrate with Serbian fans as he had been doing throughout the tournament. “Look, a lot of people doubted and still doubt that I was injured,” he said, explaining that he would provide evidence at some stage. “I would like to have a quieter life,” she said. With the Australian Open title and the No.

Novak Djokovic made history once again Sunday when he clinched a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

“It [was] just a huge pride and satisfaction that I feel at the moment,” Djokovic said. [Australian Open](https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/australian-open/580/overview) title aged 20 in 2008 before he rose to No. “Then it was just a matter of survival every single match, trying to take it to the next round. “Of course, when I went into my box, I just think emotionally collapsed there and teared up with my mother and my brother, when I gave them a hug. Of course, it makes me incredibly proud, but it also is a huge relief because it hasn't been smooth sailing, so to say, on and off the court in the last three to four weeks.” [Novak Djokovic](https://www.atptour.com/en/players/novak-djokovic/d643/overview) made history once again Sunday when he clinched a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title at the [Australian Open](https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/australian-open/580/overview). I don't have intentions to stop here. Of course, 35 is not 25, even though I want to believe it is. The Serbian produced a ruthless display to overcome [Stefanos Tsitsipas](https://www.atptour.com/en/players/stefanos-tsitsipas/te51/overview), rising to No. I really don't want to stop here. “I never really liked comparing myself to others, but of course it's a privilege to be part of the discussion as one of the greatest players of all time. If people see me this way, of course it's very flattering because I know that I give as much effort and energy into trying to win slams as anybody else.

Djokovic defeated the Greek star in straight sets to equal Rafael Nadal's record of 22 men's Grand Slam singles titles and return to number one in the world ...

Djokovic rallied from two sets down to defeat the Greek and claim the French Open title in 2021. Only the team and the family knows what we have been through in the last five, six weeks and I can say this is the biggest victory of my career." Tsitsipas saved two break points in his opening service game, but he could not resist as Djokovic piled on the pressure to break for a 3-1 lead. The atmosphere was like that of a football match at times with large Greek and Serbian contingents in the crowd, and Tsitsipas delighted the former by upping his game in the second set. "I played my best tennis at Australian Open. Djokovic defeated the Greek star in straight sets to equal Rafael Nadal's record of 22 men's Grand Slam singles titles and return to number one in the world rankings.

Novak Djokovic touched his finger to his temple after winning the Australian Open from within his own vacuum.

And on the court of his nine previous victories, the court on which he was not allowed to play in 2022, he requested the applause that came. He touched his finger to his head – Marcus Rashford was still in school the first time Djokovic did that – and then to his heart. I want to thank all the people that made me feel welcome, made me feel comfortable to be in Melbourne, to be in Australia.” “I think it deserves a player like you that pushes everyone, every single player, every single individual that’s involved in the sport, to the max. But Tsitsipas, fight though he did, had not received the memo: Djokovic has not lost a single match in his 17 I think you make me a better player when I am on the court, so thank you.” Djokovic himself could not stop talking, motor-mouthing, a bit at himself but mostly at his box. He may as well be playing on the moon, a space suit shielding him from the outside environment; his own psychological extravehicular mobility unit. His father was not in attendance but his mother was, and Dijana buried her face in her hands as her son let fly two unforced errors and a double fault in one of the more tense tie-breaks to have been played. He has tornadoed through the rounds at Melbourne Park as if in a vacuum; his critics voiceless, his opponents faceless. The public, the media, even Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia have all spent the past two weeks examining the Serb with a level of suspicion reserved for one of sport’s most divisive figures. The point is more about the Djokovic response.

After climbing its wall to celebrate a 10th Australian Open title with his support team he fell, sobbing into his brother's arms.

Tsitsipas struggled to stay in the third set after handing back an early break of serve and in the second tiebreak he could not recover from going 5-0 down, with Djokovic clinching it 7-5 on his third match point. All this, of course, pales into insignificance compared to January 2022, when he was slung out of the country amid a national furore. Whatever happens off the court, Djokovic wins upon it because he is still clearly more skilled than anyone, and never more so than at Melbourne Park, where the conditions suit him so perfectly. Controversy stalks Djokovic as relentlessly as he chases down the balls of his flailing opponents. Then he collapsed on his back to the floor, his chest heaving and the tears still flowing. Having completed this extraordinary return to Australia, it looks only a matter of time before Djokovic leaves behind the great Spaniard, whose body is becoming increasingly uncooperative.

Djokovic won a record-breaking 10th Australian Open on Sunday with a dominant straight sets win over Stefanos Tsitsipas in Melbourne.

[Djokovic won a record-breaking 10th Australian Open on Sunday with a dominant straight sets win over Stefanos Tsitsipas in Melbourne.](/sport/tennis/article-11689237/Novak-Djokovic-equals-Rafael-Nadals-record-22-Grand-Slam-titles-winning-Australian-Open.html) He invested in this. He fought for this.

Despite drama over a hamstring injury, a scandal regarding his father's behavior, and criticism of his vaccination status, the Serbian great took home the ...

In set three, with Djokovic serving at 6–5 in the tiebreak—championship point—he drove a forehand to Tsitsipas’s forehand corner, and Tsitsipas, on the stretch, sailed one last forehand long. Did he arrive with that wounded sense he seems at times to cultivate, the sense of being slighted, disrespected? That means, come March, unless he gets vaccinated, he cannot play Indian Wells or the Miami Open, two of the tour’s biggest hard-court events. Then, late last week, a video emerged of Djokovic’s father, Srdjan, celebrating a quarterfinal Djokovic victory Wednesday night with fans on the Australian Open grounds. Interestingly, Djokovic chose to test it from the opening moments of the match—sending ball after ball toward Tsitsipas’s forehand wing, varying pace, height, spin, and depth, drawing surprising errors even in routine mid-court rallies, and, perhaps, wearing down Tsitsipas’s confidence in the shot that he is most confident of. What tension there was to the match occurred in the tiebreaks that ended the second and third sets. In both of them, Djokovic established early leads but tightened up—the crowd support for Tsitsipas from Melbourne’s sizable Greek community seemed to get to him, especially in that first tiebreak—and let Tsitsipas back in. Djokovic held comfortably the first two times he served—his serving throughout the tournament was superb, and, in turn, he put relentless pressure on Tsitsipas’s serve—and he earned two break points (but failed to convert them) the first time Tsitsipas served. Tsitsipas’s best shot is his forehand, a long, flowing, often punishing one that is among the best in the game. [Carlos Alcaraz](https://www.newyorker.com/sports/sporting-scene/what-makes-carlos-alcaraz-so-good), who is injured and was forced to skip the Australian Open.) A Djokovic triumph, more often than not, is a methodical grind, an exercise in inevitability. The tone of the match was set in its very first minutes. It should take nothing away from that achievement to note that professional tennis, in the Open era that began in 1968, has come to be played mostly on hard courts, and that those who play on the men’s tour have mostly built games—big serves, big forehands—to win on hard surfaces.

Family might end up being the only thing that can stop tennis ace Novak Djokovic with the Serbian star admitting it is becoming harder to stay away from his ...

'Being absent from the children is not something that makes me very happy. Djokovic breaks down with his supporters after the Australian Open win that meant so so much after he was deported in 2022 and also banned form competing in the US Open He is the only player to spend 373 weeks as world No.1 on the ATP Tour and the only player to finish 7 years in the top spot. He is also the only male to win all Masters titles at least twice and joins Nadal as the only men to have won all four grand slams twice Djokovic roars after winning the 2023 Australian Open and reclaiming his mantle as the world's best tennis player - but the win was tinged with sadness Novak Djokovic opens up on the heartbreak of being away from his wife and children while he struggled through injury to win his 22nd grand slam title at the Australian Open

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Nadal alone can match Djokovic's ability to tough out the most important points, which is how they have dominated into their ...

I signed in for Dubai - that is where I am supposed to play at the end of February. With Nadal out in the first week, Nick Kyrgios injured and Ash Barty retired, host broadcaster Channel Nine suffered a 40 per cent drop in viewers from the previous year. Cam Norrie has nudged up one, to 11. 'And then I hope I can play in Indian Wells. but a potential French Open showdown with Rafael Nadal could scupper those plans ‘As Michael Jordan used to say, people only remember the good times.

Djokovic and Nadal both have 22 grand slam singles titles at the top of the men's all-time standings.

Djokovic, meanwhile, barring unforeseen circumstances, will be the favourite at Wimbledon and the US Open, and of course when the tour returns to Australia next year. Djokovic, on the other hand, has won five of the last seven slams he has played and looks in as good a shape as he did at 25. He had three titles by the time Djokovic won his first in Australia in 2008 and was already on nine when the Serbian claimed his second.