It’s all coming down to this: Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas will battle in the Australian Open men’s final on Sunday, with history and the No. 1 world ranking on the line.
The winner will be crowned the new world No. 1. For Tsitsipas, it would be his debut at the top, while Djokovic would reclaim his position, adding to his record of 373 weeks as the world’s top player.
Both athletes are chasing serious milestones. A victory for Djokovic would be his 10th Australian Open title, extending his record, and his 22nd Grand Slam win, tying Rafael Nadal’s record.
This would also be a testament to his resilience, overcoming a hamstring injury and the controversy surrounding his father’s appearance with fans displaying Russian flags.
After defeating Tommy Paul in the semifinals, Djokovic discussed how he copes with external pressures: “I feel like things just keep piling on for various reasons,” he said. “It’s not ideal to deal with these outside factors during such an important event.
But it’s part of my life. Unfortunately, more so in recent years. I try to grow from it, becoming more resilient and stronger.” He added, “In these moments, it’s about focusing, creating your own space with your people, and concentrating on what matters.”
Tsitsipas, on the other hand, is entering his second Grand Slam final, with Djokovic competing in his 33rd. Tsitsipas has demonstrated remarkable composure and power on his path to the final, aiming for his first major title. He seeks redemption against Djokovic, who came back from two sets down to beat him in the 2021 French Open final.
Reflecting on his journey, Tsitsipas recalled aspiring to be a Grand Slam champion while watching TV. “I remember seeing players win grand slams on TV and thinking, ‘I want to be there one day,’” he said after his semifinal victory over Karen Khachanov.
“I knew it was a long journey with specific steps to compete at this level. But I believed in it. As a kid, I was very confident. Luckily, I was good in my country.”
He continued, “Starting from there, I knew if I could compete internationally, I could prove myself repeatedly. I finished as the junior No. 1. Now, I want to achieve that in men’s professional tennis.”