CNN
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The end result was acquainted, the benefit with which it was achieved considerably of a shock. The historic implications of this match actually didn’t shackle Novak Djokovic because the Serb beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight units to win a 10th Australian Open title and a record-equaling 22nd grand slam.
After securing the 6-Three 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) victory, Djokovic went to the gamers’ field and uncontrollably sobbed, the importance and emotion of his achievement overcoming him. Even as he returned to his seat on the court docket, Djokovic hid his face in a towel, the tv cameras selecting up the sound of his continued crying.
The statistics are astonishing, the standard and consistency of his tennis much more so. Djokovic final misplaced on the Australian Open in 2018, a successful streak that spans 28 matches. This was his 33rd grand slam closing.
Both Djokovic and Rafael Nadal now share the boys’s file for main wins, whereas Djokovic turns into solely the second man to win greater than 10 titles at a single slam. The different being, sure, Nadal, who has received the French Open 14 occasions.
Undoubtedly the 2 males are all-time greats of not solely their sport however any sport. Which one is the best? That battle and debate is ongoing, and tennis is the benefactor.
Victory over Tsitsipas in Melbourne, which took slightly below three hours, additionally returned Djokovic to the highest of the boys’s world rankings, a spot he’ll occupy for a record-extending 374th week.
Tsitsipas, taking part in in his second grand slam closing, the primary of which, on the French Open, additionally resulted in defeat to Djokovic, can take coronary heart that he’s not the primary participant to be outplayed by the 35-year-old Serb on the massive event.
The Greek’s serve was beneath strain from the get-go. He fell 15-40 within the second recreation however got here by means of to tie the primary set at 1-1, but as soon as Djokovic broke within the fourth recreation not solely did it really feel that the set would attain an inevitable conclusion, however so too would the match.
Tsitsipas, the third seed, put up sterner resistance within the second set, the unforced errors had been lowered, the serve turned stronger, and he earned a set level however it was Djokovic who prevailed within the 15-shot rally that adopted. And then, the prospect was gone. Forehand errors ruined Tsitsipas’ probabilities within the tiebreak that determined the set.
An rapid break of serve by Tsitsipas within the third set steered the match was set to flip, however Djokovic broke again instantly and was supreme within the tie-break, going 5-Zero up earlier than claiming three championship factors.
More to comply with.