Tsitsipas

2023 - 1 - 29

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Stefanos Tsitsipas v Novak Djokovic: Australian Open men's singles ... (The Guardian)

Can Stefanos Tsitsipas prevent heavy favourite Novak Djokovic from claiming a 10th Australian Open crown? John Brewin has the latest.

Djokovic takes the first point when his second serve skids up and Tsitsipas fails to find the line with his return. Big rally on the first game and just as he seems to have Djokovic on the run, he smashes a forehand into the net cord. Relief for the Greek but a long long long road ahead. His talent has been apparent for years now but like so many of his generation he has failed to live with the giants of the game. Next, Djokovic nets to hand Tsitsipas an advantage, and then a big serve. A dart to the net and a top-spun winner gets the job done. The first is saved by a skidding first serve. A mighty rally sees Tsitsipas drive home a volley for 15-15 but winning every point is a struggle at the moment. Then Djokovic is pushed into an error for 40-30 to big chants from the Greek contingent. Big cheers as Djokovic hits the ball out, and it’s 30-15. It seems to work and Djokovic exasperates when missing from the baseline on the next point. Djokovic wins a rally where Tsitsipas, somewhere down the Yarra River by the end of the point, is forced into repeated saver shots.

Djokovic Opens Two-Set Lead Vs. Tsitsipas In Australian Open Final ... (ATP Tour)

Novak Djokovic is close to claiming a record-extending 10th Australian Open title after opening a 6-3, 7-6(4) lead against Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday's ...

Tsitsipas again threatened a resurgence in the third set, claiming his only break of the match in the opening game. 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](https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/australian-open/580/overview) finals to 10-0. 3 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on Monday after reaching his maiden final in Melbourne. With his victory, the Serbian tied [Rafael Nadal](https://www.atptour.com/en/players/rafael-nadal/n409/overview)’s record of 22 Grand Slam crowns. Needing to change the rhythm of the match, Tsitsipas’ booming serve and huge forehand belatedly began to fire. 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.

Djokovic vs Tsitsipas, Australian Open final LIVE Updates: Novak ... (Sportstar)

Welcome to Sportstar's live coverage of the men's singles final of the 2023 Australian Open between Serbia's Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas of ...

Wide serve, Djokovic hits a crosscourt forehand return and Tsitsipas hits the forehand down the line wide - 15-30. Deep return from Tsitsipas on wide serve from Djokovic and the Serbian, out of position, hits a forehand wide - 40-30. Tsitsipas sets up the point with a wide serve and follows it up with a forehand down the line but Djokovic gets to it and hits a crosscourt backhand pass. Wide serve into the deuce court and Tsitsipas hits the crosscourt forehand wide. Tsitsipas does everything he needed to do to construct the point, forcing Djokovic wide and then hitting a forehand down the line but the nine-time champion hangs on, hits a dipping backhand pass and Tsitsipas nets the backhand volley - 40-30. Backhand return from Tsitsipas lands on the T serve and Djokovic, somehow, hits a backhand down the line wide. Body serve from Tsitsipas and Djokovic nets the forehand return - 4-all. Spinning backhand down the line from the Greek forces Djokovic to hit a defensive lob and Tsitsipas wins the point with a smash into the open court - 1-1. Faulty drop shot in the next rally, Djokovic gets to it and hits a crosscourt backhand but Tsitsipas sticks out his racquet to hit a backhand volley and Djokovic hits a forehand lob long - 30-0. Kick serve down the T followed by a forehand down the line winner - Tsitsipas up 30-0. Gun crosscourt forehand return from Djokovic, Tsitsipas gets the forehand in in reply but Djokovic closes the net and the Greek hits a forehand long - 40-30. Wide serve into the deuce court and Tsitsipas hits the forehand return long.

Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas Australian Open 2023 Final ... (Hindustan Times)

Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas Australian Open 2023 Final Live: Djokovic has won all the finals he's played in Melbourne and if the history repeats, ...

A year later, he takes a 27-match Australian Open winning streak into the final. Tsitsipas have won the other two times. So the contest is anticipated to be a cracker. A long exchange and then Tsitsipas sends the backhand down the line over the baseline. This is what he will be aiming for, to wrap up his serves quickly and keep putting pressure on Tsitsipas' serve. Tsitsipas errs on the forehand return and Djokovic has a break point. Djokovic races away to a 40-0 lead on serve. Ace to get out of the jail. He now is a game away from taking the opening set. Djokovic then does what he has been doing, holds to love. The forehand is coming through finally in this set. Catch the LIVE updates of Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas:

Djokovic beats Tsitsipas for 10th Australian Open, 22nd Slam (The Washington Post)

Novak Djokovic has claimed his 10th Australian Open championship and 22nd Grand Slam title overall by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5)

Both Djokovic and his father said it was a misunderstanding, based on Srdjan thinking he was with a group of Serbian fans. Perhaps surprisingly, Tsitsipas was willing to engage in the kind of leg-wearying, lung-searing back-and-forths upon which Djokovic has built his superlative career. Djokovic stretched his unbeaten streak in Melbourne to 28 matches, the longest run at the tournament for a man in the Open era, which dates to 1968. Challenging his dominion on those blue hard courts is every bit the monumental task that taking on Nadal on the red clay at Roland Garros is. He was superior throughout against Tsitsipas, but especially so in the two tiebreakers. 1 in the ATP rankings, a spot he already has held for more weeks than any other man.

Djokovic beats Tsitsipas for 10th Australian Open, 22nd Slam (WCAX)

The victory also allows Djokovic to return to No. 1 in the ATP rankings.

Djokovic took a 4-1 lead in the first and after it was 4-all, pulled off the last three points. Open last September but sat out the Australian Open because of a leg injury. Challenging his dominion on those blue hard courts is every bit the monumental task that taking on Nadal on the red clay at Roland Garros is. Open and two from the French Open — are tied with Rafael Nadal for the most by a man in the history of tennis. His 10th trophy in Australia adds to the record he already held. 1 in the ATP rankings.