Djokovic Defeats Tsitsipas to Clinch 10th Australian Open and 22nd Grand Slam Title

The outcome was expected, but the manner in which Novak Djokovic achieved it was surprisingly straightforward. The historical weight of the match did not hinder Djokovic as he triumphed over Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets, claiming his 10th Australian Open title and tying the record with his 22nd grand slam win.

After securing a 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) victory, Djokovic broke down in tears, overcome by the emotional magnitude of his success. Even when he sat back down on the court, he covered his face with a towel, the cameras capturing the sounds of his continued crying.

Last year, Djokovic was unable to defend his title due to deportation over his Covid-19 vaccination status. This year, he dealt with a hamstring injury and the controversy of his father, Srdjan, being filmed with Russian supporters at the event.

During the trophy presentation, Djokovic called this win “the biggest victory of my life.” He acknowledged the numerous challenges he faced, including his absence from last year’s tournament and the difficulties of this year’s competition.

“I want to thank all the people who made me feel welcome, made me feel comfortable. Only the team and family knows what we’ve been through these last four to five weeks and this is the biggest victory of my life considering those circumstances.”

Djokovic’s records are impressive, his consistency and quality of play even more so. He has not lost at the Australian Open since 2018, maintaining a 28-match winning streak. This tournament, he only dropped one set.

Both Djokovic and Rafael Nadal now share the men’s record for major wins. Djokovic becomes the second man to win more than 10 titles at a single slam, alongside Nadal, who has won the French Open 14 times. The debate over which of these two is the greatest continues, greatly benefiting the sport of tennis.

The win over Tsitsipas, which took just under three hours, also returned Djokovic to the top of the men’s world rankings, marking his 374th week in that position. Tsitsipas, playing in his second grand slam final, was again outplayed by the 35-year-old Serb, just as he was at the French Open.

Tsitsipas’ serve was under pressure from the beginning. He managed to hold his serve and tie the first set at 1-1, but once Djokovic broke him in the fourth game, the set and match seemed destined for Djokovic.

Tsitsipas put up a stronger fight in the second set, minimizing errors and improving his serve. He earned a set point but lost it in a 15-shot rally. Djokovic then dominated the tiebreak, with Tsitsipas’ forehand errors costing him dearly.

In the third set, Tsitsipas broke Djokovic’s serve right away, hinting at a possible shift in momentum, but Djokovic quickly broke back. Another tiebreak followed, with Djokovic taking a 5-0 lead and securing three championship points.

When Tsitsipas hit a return long, Djokovic’s victory was sealed. The Serb pointed to his head and heart before breaking into tears as he looked towards his team and family.

Tsitsipas’ 42 unforced errors and inability to capitalize on break points were critical. For now, despite being seen as a future contender to tennis’s big two, he remains in their shadow.