ATP
Djokovic crowned king of Melbourne with 10th AO title
Novak Djokovic won his 10th Australian Open and will return to the No. 1 ranking after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) on Sunday to claim a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title.
The Serb, supported by at least half of the 15,000 inside the Laver arena and an estimated 30,000 watching around the grounds of Melbourne Park on giant screens, overcame his Greek opponent for the 11th time in their 13 meetings.
He claimed his 93rd career title with his 28th consecutive win at the Open after Tsitsipas saved two match points in the third-set tiebreaker.
He scrambled into the stands post-match to hug it out with his coaching team and family before returning to his bench and burying his face in a towel.
It took nearly three hours for the 35-year-old to pull level with Rafael Nadal at the top of the all-time men’s trophy table; Roger Federer retired last September with 20 majors.
“This was one of the most challenging tournaments I’ve ever played in my life,” an emotional Djokovic said.
“Not paying last year, coming back this year.. people made me feel welcome and comfortable.
“I have to pinch myself when living through this moment. Only my team and family know what we have been through the last few weeks.
“But this is probably the biggest victory of my life considering the circumstances.”
The winner also had kind words for his defeated opponent:
“On court we are fierce competitors, but that doesn’t mean we don’t respect each other.
“I congratulate you on an amazing tournament, tough luck tonight but a great battle.
“This is definitely not your last Grand Slam final. You have lots of time – much more than me,” the 35-year-old told his 24-year-old opponent.
Tsitsipas was defeated for the second time in a Grand Slam final after losing to Djokovic in the Roland Garros title match two years ago despite winning the first two sets.
While Djokovic will take back the top ranking spot from Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz on Monday, Tsitsipas will claim the third spot, his career-best ranking.
The Serb showed no signs of the leg injury which has been heavily taped throughout the fortnight as he came to the court with just a modest taping.
Tsitsipas, with 10 career titles, remains without a tournament trophy outside of his native Europe.
Djokovic polished his perfect record in Melbourne finals as he won his tenth without a defeat.
Djokovic snapped up the opening set in barely half an hour, losing just five points on serve and never facing a break point.
The Tsitsipas resistance stiffened in the second set with back-to-back love holds.
The Greek kept it all on serve, pushing Djokovic to frustration at being forced onto defence in the seventh game to trail 4-3.
With Djokovic still seething and yelling at coach Goran Ivanisevic, the set went into a tiebreaker as the Serb started to calm down.
But there was still work to do, with Tsitsipas fighting back from 4-1 down to level at 4-all. Djokovic earned a set point as his opponent returned long and took a two-sets-to-love lead seconds later when Tsitsipas hit the net with a return.
The third set started seven minutes late due to an aerial drone show above the venue which interrupted the flow of the match.
Djokovic got off to a poor start after the interruption, dropping serve in the opening game,
A break point in the second game on the Tsitsipas serve went begging before the Serb got the job done for 1-1 on his second chance.
With the set going into a decider, Djokovic took a 5-0 lead before his opponent could react, earning an emotional victory as Tsitsipas sent a return long.
“This match speaks for itself,” Tsitsipas said. “It’s all in the numbers, congrats.
“It’s been an unbelievable journey for you,” he said to Djokovic. “I admire what you have done for our sport.
“You make me a better player when I’m on the court with you.
“I’ve played a lot of high-intensity matches, but Novak brings out the best in me. He;s one of the greatest in our sport.
“He pushes every other payer to the max.”
Main photo:- Australian Open 2023 Novak Djokovic (SRB) celebrates with his player box as he wins Men’s singles final by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Alexander Zverev on Thursday made a long-sought after return to the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, booking his first final four at the event since 2019, defeating Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4.
The 2027 year-end No. 1 last got this far as the Covid pandemic began to surface in China in 2019. The event was not played 2020-2022, with the German making modest progress here over the past three editions since resumption.
After winning his 62nd match of the season, the 29-year-old was pleased with his performance.
“I think it was a huge step up. From just being on the court I felt both of us were playing really well.
“I was, a lot of the time, outhitting Alex, which is difficult to do from the baseline because he is so fast and he loves this kind of court speed here.
“I felt good and I’m happy with the step up from the past couple of matches.”
Zverev advanced in 78 minutes, sending over 10 aces as he defeated the Australian for the ninth time in their 13 matches.
Added the reigning Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows Grand Slam champion: “I’ve been handling pressure quite okay this year. In a way you play a bit more relaxed.
“Once Jannik (SInner) unfortunately announced he won’t play for the rest of the year, I’m 4,000 points ahead of everyone else, so I trust myself enough that I’m going to win [enough matches].
Zverev will play for the final to wrap up the Asian swing as he takes on Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who advanced when Arthur Gea quit their quarter-final with injury.
Alexander Zverev marked his new status as sure-thing year-end No. 1 by reaching the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday by posting a fighting 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-6 (1) victory over Alexander Bublik..
The 29-year-old German whose two Grand Slam titles this season and the absence of injured Jannik Sinner helped him into the top spot for the first time, needed to save four early set points and deal with an ank;e issue on his journey into the last eight.
Zverev moved through in just under two and three-quarter hours to set up a match with last week’s Beijing finalist Alex de Minaur, The Australian booked his spot over Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-4.
Zverev will be playing in his 40th quarter-final in a Masters 1000 and is on the hunt for an eighth trophy this season.
He said his ankle was giving problems – but not enough to affect the match outcome.”It was kind of understandable because I have been playing a lot of tennis, which is kind of a good sign because I have been playing well.
“I’m starting to feel my body more and more but happy to get through. It was a difficult match because he has been playing amazing tennis,” he said after coming from a break down in the deciding set.
De Minaur has bounced back nicely in Shanghai after quitting the Tokyo final against Carlos Alcaraz with an adductor muscle injury.
Stefanos Tsitsipas willed himself to a 401st Tour win on Monday, with the Greek advancing to the Shanghai Masters 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, over world No. 12 Taylor Fritz to reach the fourth round.
The win leaves the Greek with a 5-2 record against the American in a series dating back nine years.
The cerebral Tsitsipas credited the victory to some simple mental gymnastics.
“I was manifesting today’s match and trying to put myself in a victorious situation,” he said.
“I’ve always had big fights against him. Some of my biggest matches were played facing him on the other side of the court. I had to up my level.
“Once I started doing that, a lot of doors were open and I was really able to unleash my biggest potential out there.”
The match ended on an unusual note as the ball twice fell from the pocket of Fritz, causing each of the points in question to be replayed.
Tsitsipas missed on three match points in the mistake-marred game but secured the fightback victory a game later after two and a quarter hours.
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