Novak Djokovic equals Rafael Nadal for Grand Slam titles with 10th Australian Open triumph

Melbourne, January 29: Novak Djokovic on Sunday (January 29) equalled Rafael Nadal for most men's Grand Slam titles after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas to win his 10th Australian Open title.

The fourth-seeded Serbian Djokovic saw off the third-seeded Greek Tsitsipas in straight sets 6-3, 7-6(4), 7-6(5) in the Australian Open 2023 men's singles final match that lasted for two hours and 56 minutes at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

Djokovic, who was blocked from defending his crown last year after being deported from the country over his COVID-19 vaccination status, returned to Melbourne in style. He dropped just one set across his seven matches and has now won 28 matches in a row in his favourite tournament.

By winning the Australian Open for the tenth time, Djokovic claimed his 22nd Grand Slam title and also became the third player to win a single Major 10 times or more. Nadal (French Open - 14 times) and Margaret Court (Australian Open - 11 times) had achieved the feat earlier.

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The 35-year-old Serb, who extended his winning streak in Australia, across competitions, to 41 matches, took the first set with ease, but was made to fight for the second set by the 24-year-old Greek, who forced a tie-breaker.

Tsitsipas broke Djokovic early in the third set, but the Serbian responded immediately to level the set. The set, however, went the distance like the second set and needed a tiebreaker to decide the winner and the eventual champion.

Tsitsipas was aiming to become the 27th male singles champion in the opening major of the year, but he was under relentless pressure right from the off and a double fault in the fourth game handed his opponent the first break of serve.

Djokovic, backed by a crowd that occasionally became too vociferous amid warnings from the umpire, served out the opening set with relative ease and continued to trouble Tsitsipas with some strong serving in the second set.

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World number four Tsitsipas slowly grew in confidence and, after a string of unforced errors from Djokovic - who exchanged some strong words with coach Goran Ivanisevic - he forced set point.

But an excellent forehand winner from Djokovic prevented Tsitsipas from levelling up the match, and the Serbian went on to edge the tie-break in what was a big moment in the contest.

He had the occasional blip, with Tsitsipas earning his first break of serve in the opening game of the third set, but Djokovic responded instantly with another backhand winner to level up.

There was little to separate the two in the next 10 games as another set went the distance, and once again it was Djokovic who held his nerve in an entertaining tie-break to wrap up the victory.

The victory also means, the 22-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic will claim the number one spot in the ATP rankings by toppling Carlos Alcaraz, who pulled out of the 2023 Australian Open due to injury.

(With OPTA inputs)