Novak Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, overcame an early setback against Australia’s Alexei Popyrin to secure his spot in the tournament’s fourth round.
Initially dropping the first set, Djokovic rallied to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) in a challenging match on Centre Court.
Despite a slow start, Djokovic, who boasts 24 Grand Slam titles, gradually found his rhythm, particularly after a break where the roof closure aided his game.
Sporting a knee support from recent surgery, Djokovic broke Popyrin in the fourth game of the second set and continued to dominate, even achieving his 1,000th ace at Wimbledon during the match.
The contest saw both players engage in a brief lighthearted moment when fans celebrated England’s football victory, with Djokovic mimicking a football kick and Popyrin joining in the fun.
Djokovic praised Popyrin’s strong performance, acknowledging his opponent’s powerful serve and forehand.
Next, Djokovic will face Holger Rune, who also secured a hard-fought victory in five sets, setting up an intriguing matchup in the next round.
Top seed Novak Djokovic advanced to the Australian Open quarter-finals with a commanding victory over French 20th seed Adrian Mannarino.
Djokovic, aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title, secured a dominant 6-0, 6-0, 6-3 win in just one hour and 44 minutes.
“The first two sets were the best I have played in a while,” Djokovic said.
Novak Djokovic, aged 36, is set to face 12th seed Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
This comes after Fritz defeated last year’s finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas. Additionally, Italy’s Jannik Sinner secured his spot in the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 win over world number 15 Karen Khachanov.
Sinner is considered one of the favorites to challenge Djokovic in Melbourne. He will face fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the next round after Rublev won a challenging five-set match against Alex de Minaur, ending Australia’s hopes of a home singles champion.
Djokovic is on course for a record-extending 11th men’s singles title in Melbourne
‘I played great from first point to last’
Until Mannarino won the second game of the third set, Djokovic was on course to be the first player to win all three sets without dropping a game at a Grand Slam since 1993 – a feat never achieved at the Australian Open.
When Mannarino did clinch the game, the Rod Laver Arena crowd cheered wildly and the Frenchman broke into a huge smile.
“I really wanted to lose that game because the tension was building up in the stadium,” Djokovic joked afterwards.
“I needed to get that one out of the way so I could refocus on what I needed to do to close out the match. I played great from the first to the last point.”
Novak Djokovic is on the quest for an 11th title in Melbourne, which would surpass Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam wins.
Djokovic had faced some challenges in the early rounds, dropping sets and mentioning struggles with illness. However, he found his form in the third round against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, and his recent dominant win over Adrian Mannarino has positioned him well for the remainder of the tournament.
“The last couple of days have been really good,” Djokovic said.
“It is going in a positive direction health-wise and tennis-wise so I am really pleased with where I am at the moment.
Tim Henman, a former British No. 1, mentioned that Andy Murray would be really excited about the opportunity to compete against either Novak Djokovic or Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open in New York.
Djokovic and Alcaraz played against each other in the final match of Wimbledon last month. Now, they are going to Flushing Meadows and are expected to do well in the men’s singles competition.
Alcaraz, who is ranked as the best player in the world, recently won the US Open and now wants to keep his title at the last big tennis tournament of the year.
Djokovic wants to get back at his opponent for losing the Wimbledon final, and he wants to win his 24th major title. If he achieves this, he will have the same number of major titles as Margaret Court, which is the current record. He will also be ahead of Rafael Nadal, who currently has 22 major titles.
The British legend Murray had a big comeback after his hip surgery, and now he is ranked as the 37th best tennis player in the world.
He won three championships this year and almost won in the second round of Wimbledon against Stefanos Tsitsipas, who was ranked fifth, in a very exciting match that lasted five sets.
The 36-year-old person, who won the US Open 11 years ago, has a small problem in their stomach muscles leading up to the Flushing Meadows tournament. However, Henman still believes that Murray is able to compete in important matches if he goes against either Djokovic or Alcaraz.
In simple words: Carlos Alcaraz from Spain won the tennis tournament at Wimbledon in London on July 16, 2023. He proudly posed with the trophy, while Novak Djokovic from Serbia came in second place.
When asked how Murray would do against Djokovic or Alcaraz and which player he would prefer to face, Henman said, “I’m not sure who he would rather play, but Andy enjoys tough competition. ”
He would have very little chance of winning, and I don’t think anyone can argue with that. With his prior experience, understanding of the game, and ability to solve problems while playing.
Playing a best of five sets match is challenging because it requires a lot of physical effort. However, the player chooses to participate in these matches to have the opportunity to compete against top players in major tournaments.
Hopefully, Andy will play against either Djokovic or Alcaraz. It would be great if he has won two or three matches before, as it would give him some positive energy to continue.
I hope he is okay and in good health. You need to be in good health to perform your best, and hopefully he is just going through a minor setback (with a stomach muscle strain) and can still participate in the competition.
British fans are excited to see how well Murray can do in the men’s singles. However, Raducanu won’t be playing in the women’s singles because she is still recovering from surgery. There are rumors that she might come back to play in the Asian tournaments later this year or take a break for the rest of 2023 and aim to make a comeback in 2024.
Raducanu hasn’t played any matches since April. As a result, she has lost her position as the top-ranked British player to Katie Boulter.
Henman thinks that the winner of the 2021 US Open, who was ranked as one of the top 10 players in the world last year, will be inspired by the achievements of her fellow British players.
Henman said that competition that is good for your health is wonderful. In the British sport, we have witnessed this happening with men and now it is happening with women too. Katie Boulter achieved her first victory in Nottingham and became one of the top 100 players.
Jodie Burrage, Heather Watson, Katie Swan, and Harriet Dart are all part of the top 100. Emma Raducanu is not currently playing because she is not physically well, but she will definitely be inspired by the good results of other British players and it will motivate her.
Andy Murray has been at the top of men’s tennis for a long time, but it’s great to see Cameron Norrie and Jack Draper moving up in the rankings. It’s good to have healthy competition, and it’s very important.
Even when Greg Rusedski and I were playing against each other. “We need as many British players as possible to be ranked in the top 200 and top 100, because it would be excellent. ”
Carlos Alcaraz was seen crying after losing in the final of the Cincinnati Open in 2023 to Novak Djokovic. The match was very exciting and took place one week before the US Open.
The best tennis player in the world, Alcaraz, defeated Djokovic in the Wimbledon championship recently. However, Djokovic, who is from Serbia and is a well-known player, got back at the young Spanish player in the Masters 1000 tournament.
Alcaraz was close to winning the championship in the second set and managed to save four points in the third set, but couldn’t prevent Djokovic from winning the trophy with a 5-7 7-6 7-6 victory.
Alcaraz, who won at Flushing Meadows last year for the first time, is now trying to win his third Grand Slam title after winning at Wimbledon.
Djokovic wants to win his 24th big trophy at the US Open. This would make him tie with Margaret Court for having the most trophies ever won.
The person who is 36 years old has won more Grand Slam men’s singles titles than Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. They want to make sure that everyone agrees they are the best tennis player ever.
Some people thought that Djokovic’s loss to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final meant there was a change in the top players, but it seems like they will keep competing for Grand Slam titles and the top ranking in the future.
Alcaraz said that it would be difficult for him to speak at the moment, but he would do his best to try. Firstly, I want to say congratulations to Novak again.
It’s great to be on the same court as you, playing against you, and learning from you. This game was very intense, but I gained a lot of knowledge from a skilled winner like you, so congratulations to you and your team.
Djokovic, on the other hand, said: “Insane. ” Honestly, I don’t know how else to explain it, but this was definitely one of the most difficult matches I have ever played. It doesn’t matter if it was in a tournament, what type of match, or who the opponent was.
From start to finish, we have experienced a lot together. We have had many good times and bad times, including times when we felt very tired and times when we felt very motivated. This has been one of the most difficult and thrilling matches I have ever been a part of, and it is these moments in matches that I strive for and keep working towards.
‘I always believed I could give my best performance when it really counted. ‘
Tennis enthusiasts, commentators, and writers have long pondered the next generation of players and argued about when they would start to displace legends like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray.
Murray is considering his options for the future, Nadal will follow Federer in retirement next year, and Djokovic is outlasting them all, but he is still going strong. On Centre Court on Sunday, where he has not lost in a decade, it would take an extraordinary, once-in-a-generation talent to defeat him.
Step forward Carlos Alcaraz. The legendary John McEnroe believes the 20-year-old Spanish world No.1 is better than Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and Murray when they were his age and he has tweaked his game to make himself a force on grass.
Make no mistake, Djokovic is the heavy favourite and after becoming the first player ever to reach 35 Grand Slam finals, it is probable that he will lift a record-extending 24th major trophy, in what would be his eighth Wimbledon title.
But Alcaraz will be doing everything he can to stop Djokovic from equalling Federer for the most Wimbledon men’s singles titles ever in his first final at the Championships, after registering his maiden major trophy at last year’s US Open.
Here are three things the Queen’s Club champion can do to beat Djokovic when the duo meet in the 136th Wimbledon final at the All England Club on Sunday…
Be on the same level mentally
There are not many players who can compete with Djokovic physically, even less than can match his mental ability.
Alcaraz admits that the mental side of his game cost him when he lost to Djokovic in the French Open semi-final last month, with severe cramp brought on by the stress and nervousness of playing the Serbian legend in such a big match.
But Alcaraz is adamant that he has learnt from that experience and that things will be different when he locks horns with Djokovic again – revealing on Friday that he is working on new mental exercises before the match – one in which that he plans to trick himself into ‘forgetting’ that he is playing the seven-time champion.
‘I have a psychologist that I have worked with since the beginning of 2020,’ Alcaraz said. ‘She helps me a lot. I will talk with her how to prepare the match, that[is an] important moment for me, it is not going to be easy. But I’ll talk with her.’
Avoid a tie-break at all costs
Djokovic does not lose tie-breaks. He was remarkably won his last 15 at Grand Slams, most recently in the semi-final win over Jannik Sinner, while in his fourth-round victory over Hubert Hurkacz, the 36-year-old took the record for the most Grand Slam tie-breaks won in a single year.
‘I think the longer the streak goes, I guess mentally the more resilient or tougher I am in these situations,’ Djokovic said. ‘Coming into every tie-break now, I feel I think more comfortable than my opponent just because of the record. I think that my opponents also know about that record. That mentally makes a difference.’
It means that Alcaraz will have to play with more risk and do everything he can to break his opponent, while remaining faultless on serve. The young Spaniard admits that Djokovic has ‘no weakness’ but can cause him problems if he combines his solid groundstrokes with his dangerous and highly-rated drop shot.
Alcaraz must make the most of his stamina and on-court movement too and also cut down on unforced errors, making a total of 183 compared to Djokovic’s 118, including 23 double faults, which he must reduce if he wants to come out on top.
Don’t make Djokovic angry
If there is one thing we know about Djokovic it is that he feeds off a crowd, particularly a negative one.
The Centre Court crowd love an underdog and it can be expected that they will be mostly behind Alcaraz, just as they were with Sinner in Friday’s semi-final.
During that clash in the last four, Djokovic got fired up when spectators loudly cheered Sinner getting to set point, with one fan trolling him by shouting out ‘come on Rafa’ in reference to his rival Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic impressively saved both set points before turning around to shout at the crowd and as he was loudly booed, he wiped away a fake tear.
It is important for Alcaraz to not make Djokovic angry where possible, and try to stop him from using the crowd to his advantage if it becomes an emotive match.
If Alcaraz can combine those three things, he will have a chance of winning the Wimbledon final.
But it must be said, only a mad man would bet against Djokovic, who is looking to lift his fifth Wimbledon title in a row.
‘I do have more experience playing in many more Grand Slam or Wimbledon finals than him,’ Djokovic added. ‘Still he’s in great shape. He’s very motivated. He’s young. He’s hungry. I’m hungry, too, so let’s have a feast (smiling).’
As his Wimbledon championship defense got underway with a victory, Novak Djokovic urged the crowd to “blow” during a ridiculous rain delay and used his towel to dry the court.
On Centre Court, Djokovic defeated Pedro Cachin of Argentina 6-3 6-3 7-6 (7-4).
Despite the closed roof, there was no play for 80 minutes following the opening set. Djokovic raked the grass before the grounds crew utilized leaf blowers.
“Every time I come out I normally have racquets, not towels – it was fun to do something different,” Djokovic said.
“It was a little bit [of] a strange feeling but hopefully you guys liked it.
“It was definitely frustrating for all the crowd waiting for us to come out on court. We both wanted to play but the conditions were not great and still slippery.
“Once the roof was open it was a different story and after five or 10 minutes we were able to play.”
Djokovic, aiming to secure his eighth Wimbledon title and match Roger Federer’s record for a male player, will now play Australia’s Jordan Thompson, ranked 70th in the world, following his five-set win over American Brandon Nakashima, 55th in the world.
Djokovic, who has not lost on Centre Court since Andy Murray defeated him in the 2013 final, was up a break in the opening set but claimed the court was becoming slick from the rain.
At 14:20 BST, he finished the performance just in time for a downpour. The roof was completely closed 15 minutes later.However, before the covers were put on, enough water had gotten onto the court by that point to cause a significant delay.
Djokovic surpassed Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 Grand Slam wins, solidifying his position as the player with the most major titles, following his triumph over Casper Ruud in the final.
As reported by Sportskeeda, Mbappe was present at the Court Philippe-Chatrier, watching the Grand Slam final alongside recently retired AC Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The event also saw the presence of American football quarterback Tom Brady, who was spotted in Djokovic’s player box, showing his support for the Serbian as he went on to secure victory in the match.
Boxing legend Mike Tyson was also spotted keenly observing the proceedings on Court Philippe-Chatrier in what was an amazing night for Djokovic, who has now won the first two Grand Slams of the Tennis season.
Kylian Mbappe and Zlatan Ibrahimovic watching the tennis together at Roland-Garros 🇫🇷#SportsGist Black Stars | Ansu Fati | Newcastle | Hilda | Lautaro pic.twitter.com/zQx8WEvnlA
Meanwhile, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has claimed Kylian Mbappe will become a ‘Galactico’ as Los Blancos continue their chase for the French forward, Goal reports.
Perez appears to have hinted that Mbappe could be enticed to join Spain as a free agent next year after missing out on signing the Paris Saint-Germain forward last summer.
Real had a €220 million offer for Mbappe on the table at one point in 2021, but PSG turned it down as they fought desperately to keep the talismanic French forward on their books.
Mbappe wins special award
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Kylian Mbappe was named Ligue 1 Player of the Season for the fourth time in a row on Sunday night.
The 24-year-old has scored 28 goals in the league this term and is on course to finish as Ligue 1’s top scorer for the fifth season running.
The Frenchman was crowned in a ceremony in Paris ahead of teammate Lionel Messi, Loïs Openda and Séko Fofana of Lens, and Lille striker Jonathan David.
Great players leave records like tidal waves, setting high-water marks for others to aim for or surpass.
First it was Roger Federer, then it was Rafael Nadal, now it is Novak Djokovic who, with a 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 7-5 victory in the French Open final against Casper Ruud, set a new men’s record for the most grand slam titles with his 23rd win.
And, finally, after years of the record moving between the “Big Three,” it could now settle with Djokovic.
His dominance in grand slams shows no sign of waning while Federer retired last year and Nadal will retire at the end of next year with injuries preventing him from competing at this year’s French Open.
Despite Ruud breaking him in his first service game of the match, Djokovic always seemed in control, particularly after winning a finely poised, grueling opening set that lasted nearly 90 minutes.
And two sets later, surrounded by other great athletes – Tom Brady, Kylian Mbappé and Zlatan Ibrahimović were all in the crowd – Djokovicconfirmed his status as the most successful men’s tennis player of all time.
Novak Djokovic first addressed the crowd in French, wearing a custom hoodie with “23” embroidered on his chest, before speaking in English to tell Ruud he was “one of the best personalities on the tour.”
He added: “My team, my family, my kids, my parents, everyone is here, my two brothers aren’t here but I love them very much. You know what we’ve been through, the trials and tribulations every day.
“I know I can be a nightmare. I want to thank you first of all for patience and tolerance and that stands out. I was really torturing you so I appreciate you being my rock, and my support and really believing in me.”
Djokovic has crept slowly into the all-time great debate, his first grand slam wins punctuating half a decade of Nadal and Federer’s dominance when he was seemingly destined to be the odd one out, the one unfortunate to belong to the same era as them.
But, slowly and surely, as their powers waned and injuries took root, Djokovic emerged as the dominant player on tour – his fitness, his return of serve and his ability to make his opponent play just one more shot rendering him virtually unbeatable.
“Many congrats on this amazing achievement,” Nadal tweeted after the match. “23 is a number that just a few years back was impossible to think about, and you made it! Enjoy it with your family and team!”
Where Federer and Nadal are defined by each other, their rivalry and friendship intertwined, Djokovic occupies a space on his own, respected but perhaps not loved in quite the same way as the other two members of the “Big Three.”
His career has not been without controversy. Arguably, he could have won 23 grand slams already had it not been for his decision to remain unvaccinated against Covid-19. As a result, he was deported from Australia before the Australian Open in 2022, and missed the US Open that same year, due to the countries’ requirements for travelers to be vaccinated against the virus.
It is not just the grand slam records that he now holds. He has spent 387 weeks as the world No.1, surpassing Steffi Graff in February to set another record. Victory at this year’s French Open moves him back to his familiar spot of world No.1. Federer, meanwhile, holds the men’s record for the most consecutive weeks, 237, spent atop the rankings.
Each of the “Big Three” has become associated with a different surface during their careers – Federer with grass and Wimbledon, Nadal with clay and Roland Garros, Djokovic with the hard courts of the US Open and Australian Open.
But, by winning on Sunday, Djokovic confirmed his dominance on every surface, becoming the first male player to win each grand slam at least three times. Victory also takes Djokovic halfway to the “Calendar Slam,” winning all four major tournaments in a year, the one achievement that has so far eluded him, Federer and Nadal. He also became the oldest ever French Open champion.
For all the pre-match talk about Djokovic, it was Ruud who started impressively, rattling off a service hold to love, breaking Djokovic at the third opportunity in the Serb’s first service game, and racing to a 3-0 lead.
But Djokovic displayed the qualities that have carried him to the very top of the sport, breaking back after a 28-shot rally and then holding, despite conceding a break point, to level the scores at 4-4.
Though momentum appeared to shift, Ruud clung on – bringing the raucous crowd to their feet with a between-the- legs shot that eventually won the point – and the first set remained finely poised, all the way to a tiebreak.
As the pressure ratcheted up in the tiebreak, so too did Djokovic’s game. Ruud did nothing wrong, he barely made any errors but Djokovic’s groundstrokes seemed slightly more powerful, his movement slightly sharper, and he did not make a single unforced error as he romped to a 7-1 win to take the set, after an hour and 21 minutes.
After coming so close to landing a blow during the long opening set, Ruud seemed deflated when he walked back onto court and lost the opening three games.
All the energy dissipated from the crowd too, as if they were also accepting the inevitable, that Djokovic was simply too good for anyone to challenge him.
And shortly afterwards, Djokovic took a two-set lead, winning the set with a backhand winner down the line with Ruud marooned on the other side of the court.
Ruud still refused to yield, however, saving a break point early in the third set and engineering a promising 0-30 position with Djokovic serving and trailing 3-4, but there was little he could do in the face of his opponent’s 22 winners in the final set.
Djokovic eventually broke Ruud late in the third set to take a 6-5 lead and held on to complete a famous victory as he fell to the floor, celebrating a record-breaking day.
Carlos Alcaraz’s hopes of advancing in the French Open were dashed by cramp, allowing Novak Djokovic to secure a spot in his 34th grand slam final in rather anticlimactic fashion.
After winning an exhilarating second set to level the highly anticipated match, Alcaraz experienced a sudden cramp in his right leg following a forehand shot. Initially immobile, the 20-year-old eventually hobbled back to his seat and required treatment, resulting in the forfeiture of a service game.
The crowd expressed their displeasure through loud jeers upon realizing that Djokovic was awarded the game. However, that was the least of Alcaraz’s concerns. The Spanish player, previously captivating the audience with his remarkable movement and dynamism, was now reduced to mere walking.
Despite choosing not to retire, Alcaraz struggled to pose any significant challenge to Djokovic. He managed to win only one more game as the Serbian secured a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 victory, advancing to his seventh final on the clay courts of Paris.
Djokovic, who has not lost a grand slam match since the quarter-finals here last year, said: “First and foremost I have to say tough luck for Carlos. At this level, the last thing you want is cramps. I feel for him, I feel sorry and hope he can recover and come back very soon.
“I told him at the net, he knows how young he is. He’s going to win this tournament I’m sure many, many times. He’s an incredible player. It’s tough obviously for him to not know whether he should finish the match but congratulations to him for the fighting spirit.
“Towards the end of the second set I wasn’t feeling fresh at all. We went toe to toe and then this thing happened. I just tried to stay focused. I saw that he’s struggling but I didn’t want to think too much what’s going on on the other side of the net.
“I’m incredibly proud to reach another final.”
It was a huge disappointment because the contest had been living up to the massive hype, with the pair meeting for the first time in a grand slam and only the second occasion.
The 16-year age gap was the biggest in any Roland Garros semi-final in the open era and it seemed a pivotal match in the generational battle going on in men’s tennis as well as for Djokovic’s hopes of pulling away from his rivals at the top of the all-time lists.
Now he will be an overwhelming favourite to become the first man to win 23 grand slam singles titles in the final on Sunday, when he can also reclaim the number one ranking.
The 36-year-old had been tested on his way to the last four but he stepped up his level significantly in the first set, breaking Alcaraz in the fourth game and proving the steadier in tricky, breezy conditions.
The match really came alive in the third game of the second set when Alcaraz, whose ability to have fun at what should be stressful moments is a key part of his appeal, hit one of the most outrageous shots seen at a grand slam.
Having been dragged short and wide by a Djokovic drop shot, the Serbian appeared to have dinked a winner into the open court but Alcaraz had other ideas, not just getting to the ball on the slide but, while still travelling in the wrong direction, twisting and flicking a forehand inside the sideline.
Djokovic could do nothing but laugh and applaud while Alcaraz soaked up the adulation.
It was Djokovic who called the trainer after the seventh game for treatment to his right forearm and Alcaraz finally clinched his sixth break point to move 5-3 ahead.
The young Spaniard was forcing the pace and beginning to have significant success with his signature drop shot, but Djokovic is the toughest of grand slam beasts and back he came with a backhand winner drilled down the line.
Alcaraz forced three set points in the next game but Djokovic saved all of them, and he might have claimed the set had he taken a break point in the next game but uncharacteristically dumped a routine backhand wide.
Alcaraz held and then went up 0-40 again, this time drawing the error from Djokovic as he levelled the match.
At that stage it appeared the contest had a long distance still to run but a few minutes later it was effectively over.
Feel for Alcaraz. Just a big learning process, pretty sure every tennis player goes through this feeling. Cramping due to nervous energy and the anxiety of playing a match with this magnitude. He will learn how to deal with this in the future for sure. Then we should be scared🫣
Alcaraz hobbled his way through the remainder of the third set in what seemed like a futile bid to keep going and then took a long bathroom break, giving himself all the time he could to somehow recover.
He certainly moved better at the start of the fourth set but not nearly well enough and Djokovic ensured he did not find a way back into the match, not losing another game until he was 5-0 up.
Novak Djokovic’s absence from the Indian Wells Open has caused a stir in US politics, and on the tennis court it is hugely significant, too.
Sport was given a jolt three years ago when Indian Wells organisers cancelled the event on the eve of action getting under way, citing one local case of COVID-19.
At that point, on March 8, 2020, there had been more than 500 confirmed cases across the United States, with 21 deaths. Soon enough, events across the globe were being postponed or scrubbed.
Coronavirus travel restrictions prevented the unvaccinated Djokovic from taking part last year, and they will keep him away again this time, despite calls from two Florida senators for the jab requirement to be lifted by President Biden to allow the Serbian into the country.
With the world number one sidelined, Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz look likely challengers for the men’s title. There have been surprise champions in recent times, with Cameron Norrie winning in 2021 and Taylor Fritz carrying off the title 12 months ago, so it would be hasty to rule out something similar.
In the women’s event, there has not been a successful title defence since Martina Navratilova won in 1990 and 1991. That can partly be attributed to Serena and Venus Williams boycotting for over a decade at the peak of their powers after complaining of facing racial abuse, and in their absence no player stepped up to dominate.
Iga Swiatek triumphed in Indian Wells and Miami last season, racking up the ‘Sunshine Double’, and she starts as a strong favourite again, but defeat in the recent Dubai final to Barbora Krejcikova showed the 21-year-old rankings leader will not have everything her way this season.
First-round action gets under way on Wednesday, after two days of qualifying, and here Stats Perform, with Opta data, looks at what lies ahead.
After Norrie and Fritz, could there be another shock men’s winner?
Djokovic has won a joint-record five Indian Wells titles, but he last featured in 2019, when he lost to Philipp Kohlschreiber in round three.
Rafael Nadal is also absent this time with a hip injury, and with Roger Federer retired this will be the second Indian Wells main draw since 2000, after 2021, to feature none of the ATP Big Three.
The Big Three was a Big Four at one point, though, and Andy Murray will be competing. It is one of the two Masters 1000 tournaments Murray has never won, along with Monte Carlo, having triumphed at the other seven. Murray has the most match wins at Indian Wells among all men competing this time, having 28 to his name, two more than John Isner who sits next on the list.
No ATP player has a better win percentage at Indian Wells than Djokovic (84.7 per cent), who has won 50 of his 59 matches, while the now-retired Federer has appeared in the most finals (nine), also winning five times, so there is no doubt the field is missing its long-time classiest acts.
Fritz last year became the first men’s champion aged under 25 years old since Djokovic in 2011, and he was also the first American to take the men’s title since Andre Agassi beat Pete Sampras in the 2001 final.
Medvedev has won three consecutive tournaments in the lead-up this year, tearing to titles in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai, but the Russian has a disappointing record at Indian Wells, having yet to reach the quarter-finals in five visits.
Just four players this century, including Alcaraz last year, have reached the semi-final stage before turning 20, with Nadal, Djokovic and Murray the other three. Alcaraz is still only 19 but a shade older than Boris Becker when he was a 19-year-old champion in 1987, the youngest men’s winner.
Who else might come through? It feels like a free-for-all and Felix Auger-Aliassime will be hoping for a breakthrough tournament, with the Canadian being the only member of the current ATP top 10 to have never reached a final at ATP 1000 level. It has to happen sooner rather than later, surely.
Swiatek bids to lift curse of women’s champions
Ever since Navratilova’s two in a row, being a back-to-back champion at Indian Wells has been beyond all singles players on the WTA side.
Indeed, the only players to reach the final the year after their title run have been Lindsay Davenport (champion 1997, runner-up 1998) and Ana Ivanovic (champion 2008, runner-up 2009).
Nine women have won twice at Indian Wells, but none have managed three or more titles. The nine are: Steffi Graf, Mary Joe Fernandez, Navratilova, Daniela Hantuchova, Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, Davenport and Maria Sharapova.
A Swiatek victory would make it a club of 10, but there is a club of one when it comes to players who have captured two titles without dropping a set in either trophy run. Sharapova is the only player to pull off that feat, with her 2006 and 2013 glory runs.
Among all women, Davenport has reached the most finals (six) and won the most matches (47), with Azarenka having the most wins among active WTA players (34).
Navratilova remains the oldest champion, having won aged 34 in 1991, while Martina Hingis and Serena Williams won as 17-year-olds in 1998 and 1999.
Shocks can happen: Bianca Andreescu took the title as a wildcard in 2019, while Jenny Byrne reached the final as a qualifier in 1989, the first year the women’s event was staged.
If there is to be a teenage women’s finalist this time, maybe it will be Coco Gauff. The American turns 19 midway through the tournament, on March 13, and has yet to reach a WTA 1000 final, although she got to the French Open title match last year, where Swiatek inflicted a heavy defeat.
Perhaps Aryna Sabalenka can reprise her Australian Open form, having won a first major in Melbourne. But Sabalenka’s record in Indian Wells is a rough one, with the Belarusian yet to go past the fourth round.
Strap in for a thrill ride. They all want to stop Swiatek, but if any player can defy history it might just be the Pole.
On Wednesday, Novak Djokovic defeated Tallon Griekspoor by 6-2, 6-3, and easily advanced to the quarterfinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Midway through his record 378th week as the number one in the world, the Serbian picked up his 19th straight triumph by resolving his last-sixteen match in straight sets.
Griekspoor, who was ranked 39th in the ATP rankings at the time, was no match for the 22-time Grand Slam champion, who destroyed him in an hour and 22 minutes.
A late dropped service game at 5-1 up in the second set was the only significant blemish on Djokovic’s otherwise near-perfect performance.
“It’s been a great evening for me,” Djokovic said in his post-match interview.
“Yesterday [against Tomas Machac], I really had to work hard to get a win. Tonight, right from the blocks, I think I was sharp. I definitely played better than I did last night.
“Maybe the last three or four games weren’t the best to close the match, but I managed to find a good serve in the end.
“I’m very pleased with the performance and with the way I felt on the court, and hopefully things can go in the right direction for tomorrow.”
Djokovic, who remains undefeated in 2023, is bidding to win the Dubai title for a sixth time, in what represents his first tournament since he won the Australian Open in January.
Elsewhere, second and third seeds Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev joined Djokovic in easing their way into the last eight.
The former was made to work by Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina however, recovering for a 1-6 7-6 7-6 win, while the latter saw off Alexander Bublik 6-4 6-2.
Fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime crashed out with a surprise 7-6 6-4 loss to Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego, who is rewarded with a last-eight clash against seventh seed Alexander Zverev.
After defeating Tommy Paul in Melbourne on Friday, Novak Djokovic entered his 10th Australian Open final with a record-breaking 27th straight victory.
Djokovic, who has never lost in either a semi-final or a final in the first major of the year, prevailed 7-5 6-1 6-2 to break the winning streak Andre Agassi shared with him after defeating Andrey Rublev in the last eight.
This match, despite having a similar final score, was not quite as easy as that first one, especially in the opening set, which the nine-time champion nearly lost.
Djokovic’s hamstring problem, which had affected his preparation for the competition, also seemed to be bothering him once more, but he still has one match left, against Stefanos Tsitsipas, to win another championship.
The semi ended as it started, with Djokovic in control, yet there was a blip when he looked to be coasting through the opener.
Having just passed up his first set point, Djokovic confronted the umpire when he was not allowed time to take a towel and appeared to lose his focus, allowing Paul to win the next seven points en route to consecutive breaks – the second clinched with a stunning 30-stroke rally.
Finally, with the set level, Djokovic regained some composure and soon enough took a long-awaited second set point before cupping his ear to the Melbourne crowd and being greeted with jeers in return.
It quickly became clear Paul had missed his chance as Djokovic cruised, his primary foe now that troublesome injury.
After stretching out his leg during the first-set collapse, the Serbian appeared in discomfort throughout a dominant second, asking for ice at 5-0 up ahead of Paul’s sole hold in the set.
That ailment did not prove enough to derail Djokovic, though, as the third set followed a similar theme in an ultimately commanding semi success.
Data Slam: Djokovic closing on career-best streak
Now the sole owner of the longest Open Era winning streak in the main draw of the men’s singles tournament at the Australian Open, Djokovic will match his best run at any grand slam if he beats Tsitsipas, having claimed 28 straight victories at Wimbledon.
Only Roger Federer (40 at the US Open and 40 at Wimbledon) and Bjorn Borg (41 at Wimbledon and 28 at the French Open) have previously had 27-match win sequences at two different majors.
Novak Djokovic has no doubt in his own mind he is the best tennis player in the world, regardless of what the rankings say.
After clinching a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title by downing Casper Ruud in Turin, Djokovic reflected on a turbulent 2022 season in which he was unable to play in two of the four grand slam events.
His refusal to accept a COVID-19 vaccination meant Djokovic was denied permission to compete at the Australian Open and US Open, while the various tennis authorities’ reaction to the Ukraine crisis meant no ranking points were on offer at Wimbledon.
Indeed, Djokovic successfully defended his title at the All England Club, but in doing so he lost all of his 2,000 points for being the 2021 champion.
As such, he entered the ATP Finals as the world number eight, with his unbeaten run at the tournament seeing him collect 1,500 points and jump up to fifth on the ATP ranking list.
Carlos Alcaraz is the number one for now, after a stellar season for the 19-year-old Spaniard in which the highlight was his US Open victory, but Djokovic will be the favourite with many for the Australian Open, with authorities expected to allow him to play next year.
Asked if he was the world’s best player, Djokovic said: “I’m not. I’m fifth.”
That came with a smile from the Serbian, who added: “This week I probably am [the best]. Overall the rankings are showing who had the best year, and Alcaraz is the number one in the world. Not much to say about that.
“But in my mind I always see myself as the best player in the world, of course. I have that kind of mentality and that kind of approach. Regardless of who is across the net, regardless of what the surface is, regardless of what season it is, what number of the professional season in my career we’re facing, I mean, it’s always the same. The ambitions are as high as possible.
“That kind of approach, I feel it brought me to where I am sitting here today as a 35-year-old, holding one of the biggest trophies in the sport.”
The 21-time grand slam winner, one behind Rafael Nadal on the men’s all-time singles list, said the prospects for future success come down to his “love and passion” for tennis.
“As long as that’s there I’ll do anything in my power to challenge the young guys for the biggest trophies,” Djokovic said.
“I don’t know what the future holds, but I know that what I hold in my mind is a huge hunger still to win trophies, make history of this sport, compete on the highest level all around the world, bring good emotions to sports fans, tennis fans.”
Djokovic was greeted after the final by Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, another sporting evergreen at the age of 41, albeit very much in his career twilight.
The same cannot be said yet for Djokovic, who may have several seasons left at this high level.
His coach, former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, watched on admiringly as Djokovic won 7-5 6-3 in Turin against Ruud on Sunday.
According to Croatian Ivanisevic, the key to Djokovic’s success in his mid-thirties is his relentless work rate.
“He’s practising even harder than when he was 22,” said Ivanisevic. “That’s why he’s still so good and that’s why he’s still going to be even better.
“The will to practise, the will to improve, the will to be better is amazing. He’s taking care of his body. In my time we stopped tennis at 30, 31. You were already an old guy ready to leave.
“They all talk about, yes, young players are coming. It’s great for tennis. You have the youngest number one in the world who made unbelievable things this year, Carlos. But look at Novak. He’s still hungry, he’s still winning the tournament, playing unbelievable tennis. He’s still already thinking now about preparation for next season.
“Till he’s like that, in his mind he’s going to be always competitive, favourite to win majors and the big tournaments.”
Novak Djokovic is feeling “physically fresh and mentally motivated” after maintaining his positive form with victory over Botic Van De Zandschulp in round two of the Astana Open.
The Serbian brushed aside Cristian Garin in his opener and did likewise in Thursday’s match with Van De Zandschulp, prevailing in just 71 minutes in the Kazakh capital.
Djokovic has now won six matches in a row and is seeking back-to-back titles after triumphing at the Tel Aviv Open last week – his 89th ATP singles crown.
He reeled off five games in a row in the second set to advance 6-3 6-1, with that his 30th tour-level victory of the year.
And as Djokovic nears the end of a rather mixed season, the 21-time grand slam winner is in the mood to add further titles to his collection.
“My season is different from any other so don’t look at my season in comparison to others,” he said in his post-match interview.
“I haven’t played for over three months before Israel so I definitely am physically and mentally motivated to do well.”
Awaiting Djokovic in the quarter-final is Karen Khachanov, who eliminated Marin Cilic with a 2-6 6-3 6-3 comeback victory.
World number four Daniil Medvedev also advanced thanks to a 6-3 6-2 win over Emil Ruusuvuori, while Hubert Hurkacz beat Alexander Bublik 6-4 6-4.
At the Japan Open, third seed Taylor Fritz defeated Hiroki Moriya in three sets and will now face fifth seed Nick Kyrgios, who recovered to beat Kamil Majchrzak 3-6 6-2 6-2.
Denis Shapovalov, looking to build on his run to the Seoul Open final, got the better of home hope Rio Noguchi with a 6-3 6-1 win to advance to the quarter-finals.
Novak Djokovic breezed past Cristian Garin in the Astana Open, taking just 62 minutes to secure a 6-1 6-1 victory in his opening match of the ATP 500 event.
Having won his 89th tour-level title on Sunday in Tel Aviv without dropping a single set, fourth-seed Djokovic wasted no time in securing a win to set up a second-round clash against Botic van de Zandschulp.
Also in Kazakhstan, third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas made hard work of his second-round tie against Luca Nardi, requiring two tie breaks in a two-hour showdown in a 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-3) victory to secure a spot in the last eight.
Andrey Rublev, Roberto Bautista Agut and Adrian Mannarino also sealed their places in the quarter-finals at the Astana Open on Wednesday, while Marin Cilic and Emil Ruusuvuori won their first-round matches.
Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz defeated James Duckworth 6-2 6-7 6-1 in the Japan Open, where there was also a victory for Denis Shapovalov against Steve Johnson.
In the doubles, top seeds Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis overcame home duo Yoshihito Nishioka and Kaichi Uchida, with second seeds Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell also progressing past the round of 16 stage.
Novak Djokovic breezed past Cristian Garin in the Astana Open, taking just 62 minutes to secure a 6-1 6-1 victory in his opening match of the ATP 500 event.
Having won his 89th tour-level title on Sunday in Tel Aviv without dropping a single set, fourth-seed Djokovic wasted no time in securing a win to set up a second-round clash against Botic van de Zandschulp.
Also in Kazakhstan, third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas made hard work of his second-round tie against Luca Nardi, requiring two tie breaks in a two-hour showdown in a 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-3) victory to secure a spot in the last eight.
Andrey Rublev, Roberto Bautista Agut and Adrian Mannarino also sealed their places in the quarter-finals at the Astana Open on Wednesday, while Marin Cilic and Emil Ruusuvuori won their first-round matches.
Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz defeated James Duckworth 6-2 6-7 6-1 in the Japan Open, where there was also a victory for Denis Shapovalov against Steve Johnson.
In the doubles, top seeds Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis overcame home duo Yoshihito Nishioka and Kaichi Uchida, with second seeds Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell also progressing past the round of 16 stage.
Novak Djokovic scooped his 89th career title with victory over Marin Cilic in Sunday’s Tel Aviv Open final.
Playing his first singles event since winning Wimbledon in July, Djokovic landed a 6-3 6-4 victory, improving his career head-to-head winning record to 19-2 against former US Open champion Cilic.
He broke serve to lead 3-1 in the opening set, and then struck immediately in the second set to tighten his grip on the contest, completing the task with a service winner on his first championship point.
This indoor hard-court success goes down as a third title of the year for Djokovic, who won the Internazionali d’Italia on clay before triumphing on the Wimbledon grass. He is the first man to win a title on all three surfaces in 2022 at ATP Tour level.
Prevented from playing the North American hard-court stretch of the season, due to his refusal to accept a COVID-19 vaccination, Djokovic sat out the US Open.
He made his first post-Wimbledon appearance at the invitational Laver Cup team event in London last week, which doubled up as Roger Federer’s retirement party.
At the age of 35, Djokovic hopes to be a presence on tour for a good while to come, and Sunday’s straight-sets picking apart of Cilic was a fresh demonstration of his enduring prowess.
Nick Kyrgios claims all tournaments other than grand slams are a “waste of time” following his US Open quarter-final exit to Karen Khachanov on Tuesday.
The in-form 2022 Wimbledon runner-up’s run at Flushing Meadows, which included knocking out defending champion Daniil Medvedev, was ended by Khachanov 7-5 4-6 7-5 6-7 (3-7) 6-4.
Kyrgios had been in career-best form, winning more matches than any other player on the ATP Tour since his Wimbledon final defeat to Novak Djokovic, but will need to wait until January for another crack at a major, at his home Australian Open.
The 27-year-old has spoken about his renewed level of focus since reaching the Wimbledon final and said he was “devastated” by his US Open loss, smashing a racquet after the match.
“I honestly feel like s***,” he said. “I feel like I’ve let so many people down.
“I feel like these four tournaments are the only ones that are ever going to matter. It’s just like you got to start it all again. I have to wait until the Australian Open. It’s just devastating. It’s heart-breaking.
“I don’t even really care about any other tournament. I feel like at the grand slams, now having success at a grand slam, it’s just like no other tournament really matters.
“It’s like you get better, you get worse, then at a grand slam none of it matters. You either win or lose. People don’t really care if you got better on the day or you lost 6-4 in the fifth or played one of the best matches of the tournament. You lost.
“That’s all people remember at a grand slam, whether you win or you lose. I think pretty much every other tournament during the year is a waste of time really. You should just run up and show up at a grand slam. That’s what you’re remembered by.”
Kyrgios allayed concerns over a knee injury at the end of the first set that he said settled, stating that he started “flat” and felt Khachanov’s serve was too good, particularly in key moments.
“All credit to Karen, he’s a fighter. He’s a warrior,” he said.
“I thought he served really good today. Honestly probably the best server I played this tournament, to be honest, the way he was hitting his spots under pressure.”
The triumph marks 29th seed Khachanov’s first major semi-final having fallen in the quarter-finals at majors twice previously.
“It’s like one more step forward,” the Russian said. “I’m really, really happy I could do it.
“I had to face and to beat Nick, who is playing some of the best tennis again. It obviously was a tough match to approach. I made my first semi-final, so it’s pretty simple in my head. I’m just really happy.”
The German went under the knife after tearing all three of the lateral ligaments in his right ankle during his French Open semi-final against Rafael Nadal.
Zverev will not make his comeback at the final grand slam of the year in New York, as his withdrawal was announced on Monday.
The 25-year-old reached his only major final at Flushing Meadows two years ago, losing to Dominic Thiem.
Zverevstated after his operation that surgery was “the best choice” to ensure his ligaments heal properly and he could return to competition “as quickly as possible.”
The US Open gets under way next Monday, with doubts remaining over whether Novak Djokovic will be able to play due to the 21-time Grand Slam champion opting against receiving a coronavirus vaccine.
Rafael Nadal demonstrated once again why he is the greatest player in French Open history by beating long-time rival Novak Djokovic in a late-night thriller to reach the men’s singles semi-finals.
Nadal, going for a 14th title, started superbly and fought off resistance from defending champion Djokovic to win 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6 (7-4) at Roland Garros.
Nadal secured victory at 1:15am local time after over four hours on court.
The 21-time Grand Slam winner now faces third seed Alexander Zverev on Friday.
Germany’s Zverev, 25, reached the semi-finals for the second successive year after surviving teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz’s fightback earlier on Tuesday.
“To win against Novak there is only one way: to play your best from the first point to the last,” said 35-year-old Nadal, who thanked the Paris crowd for showing their “love”.
“This is one of those magic nights for me.”
Victory for fifth seed Nadal avenged his semi-final defeat by Djokovic last year and extended his all-time record on the Roland Garros clay to 110 wins in 113 matches.
The rivalry between the pair is the most enduring in men’s tennis, with Nadal winning their 59th meeting seeing him narrow the gap to 30-29 in the head-to-head.
“Nadal showed why he is a great champion and stayed mentally tough. No doubt he deserves it,” said Djokovic.
“He was the better player in the important moments, he started well and I didn’t start so well.
“I gained momentum in the second set and I thought I was back in the game. But he was able to take his tennis to another level.”
World number one Novak Djokovic has become the latest tennis player to test positive for Covid-19.
It comes after Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki all revealed they had coronavirus after playing at Djokovic’s Adria Tour competition.
Djokovic, 33, played fellow Serb Troicki in the first event in Belgrade.
Great Britain’s Andy Murray said the positive tests were a “lesson for us”, while Australian Nick Kyrgios called playing a “bone-headed decision”.
There have been no ATP Tour events since February because of the global pandemic and the Adria Tour, which is not an ATP Tour event, was one of the first competitions to be staged since then.
The first leg in Serbia attracted 4,000 fans, and players were later pictured dancing close together in a Belgrade nightclub.
Bulgaria’s Dimitrov played Croatia’s Coric on Saturday in the second leg in Zadar, Croatia.
With Croatia easing lockdown measures, players were not obliged to observe social distancing rules and were seen embracing at the net at the end of their matches.
Pictures on the tournament’s social media site from Friday showed Dimitrov playing basketball with Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Marin Cilic, while he also put his arm around Coric before their match.
Zverev, Cilic and Andrey Rublev, who also played, have tested negative, but suggested they will all now self-isolate for up to 14 days.
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All-conquering Novak Djokovic Sunday said a turbulent childhood where he had to queue for milk and bread in war-torn Serbia made him hungry for success, after he fought back from the brink to win his eighth Australian Open.
The 32-year-old needed to dig deep to rally from two sets to one down for the first time in a Grand Slam final and battle past fifth-seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
His eighth victory in eight finals at Melbourne Park handed him a 17th Major to move within three of Roger Federer’s all-time 20.
Asked how he managed to keep winning in pressure situations, Djokovic said it stemmed from his early life.
“My upbringing was in Serbia during several wars during the ’90s, difficult time, embargo in our country where we had to wait in line for bread, milk, water, some basic things in life,” he said.
“These kind of things make you stronger and hungrier for success I think in whatever you choose to do.
“That probably has been my foundation, the very fact that I came from literally nothing and difficult life circumstances together with my family and with my people.
“Going back to that, reminding myself where I came from always inspires me, motivates me to push even harder.
“That’s probably one of the reasons why I managed to find that extra gear or necessary mental strength to overcome challenges when they present themselves.”
The match against Thiem was one of those occasions.
‘I was a bit shocked’
He looked in trouble after losing the second and third sets, with his energy levels down and a trainer telling him he was dehydrated.
“I definitely did not feel good. I didn’t know what the next moment brings. I was trying to keep myself alive mentally as well, and emotionally,” he said.
“I was a bit shocked that I did feel that way because everything was fine before the match. For the first two sets, everything was okay. But it’s something that you have to accept that you’re going through.
“Those kind of circumstances really kind of force me to let things go and to really try to be in the moment and fight my way back.”
Victory ensured Djokovic will once again be world number one when the new rankings are released on Monday, displacing Nadal. Federer remains third with Thiem moving up a place to a career-high fourth.
It also moved him alongside Nadal (12 at the French Open) and Federer (eight at Wimbledon) as only the third man ever to win eight or more titles at the same Slam.
Djokovic said winning Major titles was the reason he kept playing tennis.
“Obviously at this stage of my career, Grand Slams are the ones I value the most. They are the ones I prioritise,” he said.
“Before the season starts I try to set my form, shape for these events where I can be at my prime tennis, mental and physical abilities.
“Grand Slams are one of the main reasons why I am still competing and still playing full season.”
Novak Djokovic battled through a five-set thriller with Dominic Thiem to maintain his dominance at the Australian Open Sunday, claiming a record eighth title and returning to world number one in the process.
The indomitable Serb stretched his unbeaten streak this season to 13 but he had to rally from two sets to one down to beat the courageous fifth-seeded Austrian 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a nearly four-hour marathon.
It was his 17th Grand Slam title, moving him within two of Rafael Nadal and three of Roger Federer on the all-time list.
“Definitely my favourite court, my favourite stadium in the world and I’m blessed to hold this trophy once again,” said Djokovic.
Victory put him alongside his fellow legends as only the third man in history to win eight or more titles at the same Slam after Nadal (12 at the French Open) and Federer (eight at Wimbledon).
It also ensured he will once again be world number one when the new rankings are released on Monday, usurping Nadal. Federer remains third with Thiem moving up a place to a career-high fourth.
But it wasn’t easy with the Serb looking lethargic and out for the count in sets two and three before regaining his mojo after a medical timeout to grind down the talented Thiem.
Djokovic had never before won a Slam final in seven previous attempts when finding himself two sets to one down.
“You and two other guys (Nadal and Federer) brought men’s tennis to another level. I am happy I can compete in these times,” said Thiem.
“I fell short today but I hope soon I can compete with you again.”
– Nerveless start –
The Serb, 32, was the overwhelming favourite, but the supremely fit and fast Thiem, 26, always had the weapons to trouble him, which he deployed successfully for much of the match, taming his serve and unleashing some explosive groundstrokes.
It was a nerveless start from Djokovic, who comfortably held then put big pressure on the Austrian’s serve, with a forehand into the net giving him an immediate break and a psychological edge after some monster rallies.
Thiem, though, is as strong mentally as he is physically and he finally got on the scoreboard after another tough service game.
And against the run of play, with Djokovic seemingly in control, he broke back, unleashing pinpoint groundstrokes to make the most of some loose Djokovic shots.
But the world number two was unrelenting, breaking again as Thiem served to stay in the set, with the Austrian sending down his first double fault of the match at the crucial moment.
Remarkably, a rare Djokovic double fault handed Thiem a break to go 2-1 up in set two with the courageous Austrian refusing to go away.
The Serb was getting frustrated, looking at his coaching box and pointing at his head.
He refocused and once again began attacking the Thiem serve, breaking back for 4-4, pumping his fists when the fifth seed sent a backhand wide.
But two time warnings on his serve in the next game rattled Djokovic and he was broken again, with the Serb losing his cool by patting the umpire’s foot at the changeover and telling the official: “Great job… you made yourself famous.”
– ‘Tough luck’ –
With Djokovic still looking distracted, Thiem served out the set — the first the Serb had dropped in an Australian Open final since 2015.
Djokovic appeared dejected and was immediately broken twice in set three as Thiem raced to a 4-0 lead, having won six games in a row with Djokovic imploding.
The Serb was heard telling a trainer he was tired and after losing the set, he went for a medical timeout.
He came back and the fourth set went with serve until a Thiem double fault handed the Serb two break points and he converted to regain control, serving out the set with an ace.
Djokovic drew on all his experience to force another break in the deciding fifth set to take a 2-1 lead and kept his foot on the gas to claim an eighth crown from the last 13 Australian Opens.
“It wasn’t meant to be tonight,” Djokovic told Thiem. “Tough luck. It was a tough match. But you were very close to winning it.
“You know, you definitely have a lot more time in your career and I’m sure that you will get one of the Grand Slam trophies. And more. More than one.”
