Novak Djokovic took the lead on Sunday in Melbourne where, by winning his tenth Australian Open against Stefanos Tsitsipas, he equaled Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 Grand Slam titles and regained the world number 1 spot.
“I have to pinch myself because I can’t believe it. Only my team knows what we’ve been through for the past four to five weeks. That’s why it’s the best victory of my career! said Djokovic, cup in hand and wearing a jacket with the number 22 already drawn on the chest.
” What an adventure ! I hope you will forgive me for everything I have put you through for all these years and this trophy is as much yours as it is mine, ”he said towards his camp.
Expelled from Australia last year before the start of the tournament, Djokovic could only observe, helpless, the strong comeback of Rafael Nadal who had taken a step ahead in the race for Grand Slam titles with a 21st major coronation (20 for Djokovic and Federer). A few months later, the Spaniard pushed his advantage at Roland-Garros.
Winner then at Wimbledon but banned from entering the United States for the US Open, the Serb therefore had to wait for the Australian Major to come back up to Nadal.
These impossibilities to play and the absence of points distributed at Wimbledon made him lose his place as number 1 last year.
He recovered it on Sunday and will begin his 374th week on Monday at the top of the world hierarchy, a new record. Since 2021, he also holds the record for the number of seasons finished in number 1.
“My dreams as a child were to win Wimbledon and become number 1. Both came true in 2011. I couldn’t imagine I would still be here twelve years later…and yet I have a big imagination “, he commented.
Controversies
Forgotten the political and health crisis of his expulsion last year, forgotten the thigh bandage he wore throughout the tournament, forgotten the diplomatic crisis caused by a video showing his father celebrating his victory in the quarter-finals with pro-Russian supporters. Djokovic once again became the King of Melbourne and none of the seven opponents he met threatened him.
Not even Stefanos Tsitsipas, whose varied game and confidence displayed throughout the fortnight made him, on paper, a formidable opponent.
Like the others, the Greek had to bow to the host, without managing to take a set from the Serb who won 6-3, 7-6 (7 / 4), 7-6 (7 / 5 ).
Of heats, Djokovic will have finally lost only one in seven meetings, during the 2nd round against the Frenchman Enzo Couacaud.
“I don’t know what to say about what you’ve accomplished…the numbers speak for themselves. I admire what you do for this sport and when I play against you, you always make me play better,” Tsitsipas paid tribute to him.
The Greek was playing his second Grand Slam final, after losing that of Roland-Garros in 2021, already against Djokovic during which he had led two sets to zero.
This time in Melbourne, Djokovic was clearly superior, never giving Tsitsipas hope for a victory despite the two decisive games played.
Match in the stands
The match was even tighter in the stands, in terms of cheering, between the many Greek fans and the even more numerous Serbian fans, several hundred of whom without tickets to the Rod Laver Arena watched the match on a giant screen in the stadium. Melbourne Park compound.
Once the victory was assured on a final fault by his opponent, Djokovic went up to his box to kiss his team, including his coach Goran Ivanisevic and his mother Dijana, and collapsed there on the ground in tears. “I broke down because suddenly that weight on my shoulders dissipated,” he explained.
“It was one of the most complicated tournaments,” he added, saying he probably wouldn’t have played “if it hadn’t been a Grand Slam tournament.”
As well as Nadal is at home at Roland-Garros (14 titles in as many finals), Djokovic has shown that Melbourne Park is his territory (10 titles in as many finals).
“He is one of the greatest in our sport,” said Tsitsipas, before recovering, under pressure from the public: “He is the greatest of all those who have ever held a racket!” »