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
Holger Rune battled past injured Carlos Alcaraz to spoil the Spanish Easter party at the Barcelona Open, with the Dane lifting the trophy 7-6 (6), 6-2.
The pair of 21-year-olds were familiar foes, having played 20 times in juniors before hitting the Tour; Rune won the first 500 series title of his career and his fifth overall.
Alcaraz was treated three times in the second set after an apparent injury to his upper right thigh/groin after duelling hard in the opening set at the Real Club.
The loss will send Alcaraz back to third in the rankings, with Alexander Zverev moving back to second behind Jannik Sinner as a result of winning the Munich title on Sunday.
Rune, a first-round victim last week in Monte Carlo, reversed his clay momentum in Spain, handing Alcaraz a first loss of a set for the week.
The Spanish top seed’s two final shots both clipped the top of the net and fell back as Rune raised his hands in celebration after 97 minutes on court in the Catalan capital.
“This means the world,” the winner said. “I started the match stressed, he was playing big-time tennis.
“I was able to find my rhythm after he broke me (3-2 in the opening set) and I got more into the match.
“The first set was a big battle with a lot of important points. It was super-important to win the set and gain momentum.
“I’m so proud of myself.”
Rune ended with 18 winners while the ailing Alcaraz produced 33 unforced errors. The Dane claimed his 50th match win on clay and levelled his Tour record in the series to 2-2.
Rune said he channeled Novak Djokovic’s Paris Olympic gold medal win from last summer over Alcaraz as he struggled to turn his game around in Barcelona.
“I asked myself what Novak did to win that final. I (realised) that I didn’t need to hit every ball on the line. I need to make him play and hit a lot of balls.”
Rune, who won the elite Paris Bercy Masters 1000 title in 2022, finally began reversing a 13-match loss streak against top five opponents.with his title victory.
Alcaraz may be racing for fitness with the Madrid Masters starting on Wednesday as the ATP ploughs ahead with an unpopular two-week format for Masters tournaments despite growing protest from exhausted players.
Main photo:- Holger Rune celebrates Barcelona win – by ATPTour.com
Alexander Zverev turned 28 on Sunday and awarded himself a third title on his home Munich clay as he beat Ben Shelton 6-2,6-4 to win the ATP event.
The 2017 and 2018 champion here is now threatening Carlos Alcaraz as the pair duel for the world No. 2 position which the Spaniard took over last week after winning Monte Carlo.
Zverev schooled lefthander Shelton in 70 minutes for a second win in their series. The winner becomes the second to hold three Munich titles after countryman Philipp Kohlschreiber (2007, 2012, 2016).
“I’m enjoying my birthday so far,” Zverev said. “It’s extremely special to win in Germany, the most special thing I can do.
January’s Australian Open finalist added: “It’s definitely a great birthday present, I knew I had to play my best today, conditions were very hot and very fast.They were perfect for me.”
The winner broke three times while never facing a challenge to his serve from Shelton as he claimed a sixth career title at the 500-Tour level.
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev with his “birthday” trophy – by BMW Open/Bitpanda
Alexander Zverev gave fans in Munich what they were after as the top seed rolled into the final of the clay ATP in Bavaria with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 defeat of Fabian Marozsan.
World No. 3 Zverev, who won the titles in 2017 and 2018 needed 91 minutes to advance into a title match with Ben Shelton.
The American earned his spot with a .2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 defeat of Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.
Zverev advanced with nine aces and broke twice in the tidy win over his Hungarian opposition.
“It’s awesome. The entire week has been great. Everybody is really enjoying the weather as well as the new Center Court,” the winner said. .
“I’m enjoying myself and hopefully I will have another great day tomorrow.”
Shelton reached his fourth career final, becoming the first American man to reach a clay final above ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi won the Rome Masters 23 years ago.
“It’s a big win for me. To get a win on clay against a guy like him gives me a lot of confidence,” Shelton.
“I’m really happy and excited to be in a 500-level final in Europe, my second clay-court tournament this season.
“I’ve been playing well this week and I’m not too stressed right now.”
Main photo:-Alexander Zverev winning in front of his home crowd – by ATPTour.com
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