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 definitely didn’t shackle Novak Djokovic because the Serb beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight units to win a tenth Australian Open title and a record-equaling twenty second grand slam.

After securing the 6-3 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. At the same time 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.

Final 12 months, Djokovic was unable to defend his title after being deported from the nation over his Covid-19 vaccination standing. This 12 months at Melbourne Park, he has had a hamstring harm and needed to take care of the fallout of his father, Srdjan, being filmed with a bunch of Russian supporters on the Australian Open.

In the course of the presentation ceremony, Djokovic described this win as “the largest victory of my life.”

“This has been one of many more difficult tournaments I’ve ever performed in my life, contemplating the circumstances,” he mentioned.

“Not taking part in final 12 months, coming again this 12 months. I wish to thank all of the individuals who made me really feel welcome, made me really feel snug. Solely the crew and household is aware of what we’ve been by these final 4 to 5 weeks and that is the largest victory of my life contemplating these circumstances.”

The statistics are astonishing, the standard and consistency of his tennis much more so. Djokovic final misplaced on the Australian Open in 2018, a profitable streak that spans 28 matches. At this match, he solely misplaced one set.

Each Djokovic and Rafael Nadal now share the lads’s document for main wins, whereas Djokovic turns into solely the second man to win greater than 10 titles at a single slam. The opposite 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 just below three hours, additionally returned Djokovic to the highest of the lads’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 below stress from the get-go. He fell 15-40 within the second recreation however got here by 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 decreased, the serve grew to become stronger, and he earned a set level but it surely was Djokovic who prevailed within the 15-shot rally that adopted. After which, the prospect was gone. Forehand errors would smash Tsitsipas’ probabilities within the tiebreak that determined the set.

A direct break of serve by Tsitsipas within the third set prompt the match was set to show, however Djokovic broke again instantly. Once more, a tieberak was wanted to separate the pair, with Djokovic supreme this time – going 5-0 up earlier than claiming three championship factors.

When Tsitsipas hit a return lengthy, the title for Djokovic was secured. The Serb appeared in direction of his crew and members of the family – his father Srdjan didn’t look like current – and pointed to his head and coronary heart. After which got here the tears.

Finally, Tsitsipas’ 42 unforced errors proved expensive, whereas he was solely in a position to safe one in every of three break factors, alternatives he needed to take if he was to actually check the Serb.

For now, the person tipped to be one of many gamers to succeed males’s tennis’ huge two stays within the shadows.