Novak Djokovic bagged his 10th Australian Open win this morning when the Serbian tennis pro defeated Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas at Melbourne Park. Djokovic earned the men’s singles title in three gruelling sets, securing a 6-3, 7-6(4), 7-6(5) victory in just under three hours. His win today marks Djokovic’s 22nd Grand Slam—a record that he shares with Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal.
While the 35-year-old was a clear frontrunner to win the match, 24-year-old Tsitsipas’s skill and athleticism provided healthy competition for Djokovic, who remains one of the tennis world’s best returners and pressure players.
While Djokovic took the first set 6-3 in just 36 minutes, Tsitsipas rebounded and pushed Djokovic to two tiebreaks in the second and third sets. Today’s match marked Djokovic’s 33rd major final and Tsitsipas’s second; the Greek player lost his other major final, at the 2021 French Open, to Djokovic as well.
Post-match, Djokovic celebrated his win by jumping and pumping his fists, eventually collapsing onto his back and crying. It was certainly an emotional win for Djokovic, who last year was unable to defend his title in Australia due to his vaccination status (he was deported from the country for not being vaccinated against COVID-19).
“This has been one of the more challenging tournaments I’ve ever played in my life, considering the circumstances,” Djokovic said after winning the championship point.
“Not playing last year, coming back this year…I want to thank all the people who made me feel welcome, made me feel comfortable. Only the team and family know what we’ve been through these last four to five weeks and this is the biggest victory of my life considering those circumstances.”
With his 10th Australian Open, Djokovic will now return to the top of the ATP men’s world rankings—a spot he will occupy for a record-extending 374th week.
He currently holds more Australian Open titles than any other player, male or female, and continues a winning streak after claiming his seventh Wimbledon title against Nick Kyrgios in 2022.
