Perfect 10: Djokovic Returns To No. 1 With 22nd Major At AO

A familiar tale, but a groundbreaking one all the same.

Novak Djokovic claimed a record-extending 10th Australian Open title Sunday in Melbourne, where he rode the challenge of Stefanos Tsitsipas to prevail 6-3, 7-6(4), 7-6(5) in the final of the hard-court Grand Slam. With his victory, the Serbian tied Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 Grand Slam crowns.

The 35-year-old’s triumph also sealed his return to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time since last June. Djokovic will replace Carlos Alcaraz in top spot on Monday after notching his 10th tour-level victory in a row against Tsitsipas, who would have claimed top spot himself with victory in Sunday’s final.

Despite so much riding on the match, Djokovic confidently assumed control early on Rod Laver Arena. Although the Greek raised his game in the second and third sets to ensure some absorbing rallies whipped up an intense atmosphere in the crowd, the Serbian was clinical at key moments to seal a two-hour, 56-minute victory and improve his record in Australian Open finals to 10-0.

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It was the second meeting between Djokovic and Tsitsipas in a major final. At Roland Garros in 2021, Djokovic rallied from two-sets-to-love down to defeat the Greek and claim victory on the Paris clay, but he gave Tsitsipas few opportunities to establish a similar lead on Sunday in Melbourne.

Despite Tsitsipas scoring an early morale-booster in the first set by saving two break points from 15/40 to hold for 1-1, Djokovic’s typically consistent and accurate groundstrokes dominated the early stages. He frequently piled pressure onto the Tsitsipas backhand, and the Greek was unable to repeat the escape in the fourth game, when Djokovic clinched the only break of the set.

Needing to change the rhythm of the match, Tsitsipas’ booming serve and huge forehand belatedly began to fire. On several occasions in the second set, the Greek reacted to winning crucial points by rousing his supporters in the crowd, and the third seed fed off the febrile atmosphere to raise his level on Rod Laver Arena.

Yet although Tsitsipas carved out the sole break point chance of the set (which doubled as a set point) at 4-5, 30/40, Djokovic found a way to pull through. He arrowed a sublime forehand winner to save the set point and held his nerve again to claim the tie-break despite having dropped three straight points to surrender a 4/1 lead.

Tsitsipas again threatened a resurgence in the third set, claiming his only break of the match in the opening game. As he so often has on the big stage throughout his career, however, Djokovic responded immediately. He broke back in the next game before clinching a third set dominated by serve — and his historic victory — with a commanding tie-break display.

Despite falling just short of becoming the first Greek to win a Grand Slam title, Tsitsipas will return to his career-high of No. 3 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on Monday after reaching his maiden final in Melbourne.

More to follow…