Novak Djokovic won his eighth Australian Open on Sunday February 2, beating Dominic Thiem 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, synonymous with 17e Grand Slam title which brings him closer to Roger Federer's record (20) and allows him to become again no 1 worldwide.
The 32-year-old Serbian holds the record for victories in Melbourne. Thiem, 26, fails for the third time in a Major final after Roland Garros 2018 and 2019 where he was beaten by Rafael Nadal.
#AustralianOpen – The big 8 for Djokovic! At the end of a 4h match, Novak #Djokovic won his 8th title at M… https://t.co/qOBp0VSRdT
"This is without a doubt my favorite tournament and I am blessed to have been able to win it eight times", said Djokovic after this victory. “Congratulations, Novak, with Roger (Federer) and Rafa (Nadal), you have taken tennis to a whole new level. I am honored to play at that time, even if I was a little short tonight ", said Thiem, obviously in the grip of deep sadness. "You could have won tonight and you have time to win not one, but many Grand Slam tournaments", however, told him "Nole".
Djokovic's empty run
After easily winning the first round, taking advantage in particular of a double fault by Thiem on the set ball, Djokovic experienced a strange slump which allowed his Austrian opponent to return to the game and even take the commands to lead 2 sets to 1.
The Serb seemed completely apathetic and as lost, no longer knowing how to take his adversary, him the master tactician. He did his utmost to avoid the Austrian's forehand, while committing a lot of direct fouls himself.
In total, Djokovic committed 57, when he had conceded in all and for all only 9 in the final won last year against Nadal. By winning the third set, Thiem has never been so close to a first major trophy, having never led in his first two finals.
But suddenly, in the fourth set, the game picked up again, at the same time as Djokovic regained energy after a timeout during which he left the court. And in the fifth set, Thiem, in turn, accumulated the faults (57 also on the whole game) and was dropped by his forehand.
With this title, Djokovic becomes the first player of the modern era (Open era, since 1969) to win Grand Slam tournaments in three different decades since his first in Australia in 2008, and the 2e in the story after Ken Rosewall in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Thiem again becomes 4e world.
