Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas - LIVE: Australian Open result as emotional Djokovic wins 22nd grand slam
Novak Djokovic defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas to win a 10th Australian Open and move level with Rafael Nadal on a men’s record 22 grand slam titles.
The Serbian was deported from Australia 12 months ago amid a political storm over his exemption for the Covid vaccine, but has made a triumphant return to the court with a historic victory on Rod Laver Arena.
The 35-year-old defeated Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6, 7-6 in just under three hours to maintain his perfect record in Australian Open finals. Djokovic has now won all 10 of his showpiece appearances in Melbourne and extends his winning streak at Melbourne Park to 28 matches.
It also moves Djokovic level with Nadal in the grand slam race, after the Spaniard edged ahead by winning the Australian Open in Djokovic’s absence and the French Open to reach a men’s record 22 titles.
Follow live reaction from the Australian Open men’s final, below:
Australian Open 2023 LIVE: Djokovic vs Tsitsipas latest updates
Novak Djokovic beats Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3 7-6 7-6 to win 10th Australian Open
Djokovic overwhelmed with emotion after winning 22nd grand slam
Djokovic saves set point at 4-5 before going on to take second set on tiebreak
Djokovic wins first set 6-3 to take charge of Australian Open final
Novak Djokovic defeats Stefanos Tsitsipas to win the Australian Open
12:00 , Jamie Braidwood
“The king of Melbourne Park is back” - the trophy presentation is underway, with Djokovic wearing a jacket with ‘22’ on it. All his team have ‘10’ shirts on, too.
Novak Djokovic defeats Stefanos Tsitsipas to win the Australian Open
11:54 , Jamie Braidwood
Unbelievable scenes - unprecedented for Djokovic. The trophy ceremony will take place next.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! NOVAK DJOKOVIC WINS THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN!
11:46 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic points to his head after winning match point and there is a warm embrace with Tsitsipas at the net.
The emotion from there is extraordinary. Djokovic goes to his box and roars. He climbs up to meet his family and coaches, and breaks down into tears.
I cannot remember seeing this level of emotion from Djokovic before. He falls onto his back and is completely overcome.
As he goes back to his seat courtside he sobs into his towel. Huge, gulping sobs. It has to do with everything he went through last year, with the deportation from Australia.
He returned this year with a single goal - and he has now achieved it.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! NOVAK DJOKOVIC WINS THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN!
11:43 , Jamie Braidwood
10 Australian Opens!
22 grand slam titles!
Back to World No 1!
Djokovic has done it. What a comeback to Melbourne.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6 6-6 Stefanos Tsitsipas - Tiebreak!
11:38 , Jamie Braidwood
Tsitsipas finds the first serve. Djokovic nets on the stretch. 5-2
What a rally - but it’s Tsitsipas who prevails! Brilliant crosscourt exchange from both players. Tsitsipas attacks with the angled backhand, and Djokovic can’t return with the volley. 5-3.
Sublime from Djokovic! He attacks again, forcing Tsitsipas to retreat behind the baseline, before powering the forehand winner. 6-3
Championship point! Lots of noise still in the crowd.
Djokovic pulls the backhand off the Tsitsipas serve. One saved. 6-4.
Tsitsipas again! First serve in, and the Greek puts away the forehand! 6-5.
One more Championship point!
Djokovic clips the line with the forehand crosscourt, Tsitsipas goes long!
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6 6-6 Stefanos Tsitsipas - Tiebreak!
11:35 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic gets off to the quick start, continuing his run on serve. 1-0
And then Djokovic attacks the Tsitsipas second serve! Inside out forehand winner, off the return, stunning! 2-0
Tsitsipas with the forehand error, it’s like the second set tiebreak is repeating itself! 3-0
Djokovic with great depth to the Tsitsipas backhand, and the Greek almost gives up on the chipped return. 4-0
Tsitsipas with the backhand into the net - Djokovic moves two points away. 5-0
There’s lots of noise in the crowd, Djokovic with the backhand slice that drifts wide. Djokovic looks up but he’s got a big lead. 5-1
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6 6-6 Stefanos Tsitsipas - Tiebreak!
11:33 , Jamie Braidwood
Here we go: Tsitsipas serving to stay in the match. The Greek makes a good start on serve, but then Djokovic presses with depth to the Tsitsipas forehand.
Ace out wide from Tsitsipas.
40-15: Djokovic snaps the return and although Tsitsipas makes a sublime pick-up, he fires long.
Ace again! Another tiebreak...
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6 6-5 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
11:28 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic gets to 16 points in a row on serve, to get to 40-0.
Make that 17, as his serve out wide is parried into the net by Tsitsipas.
That’s four games in a row without dropping a point on serve.
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6 5-5 Stefanos Tsitsipas
11:25 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic grinds down Tsitsipas on the baseline duel and gets to 30-30 on the Greek’s serve - just two points away from the the title.
Tsitsipas finds a first serve and puts away the forehand winner. Ace from Tsitsipas! Good hold.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6 5-4 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
11:21 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic has dropped just two points on serve since he was broken at the start of the third. He holds to love for the third game in a row, helped by a couple of brilliant winners. The 35-year-old senses that he is almost there.
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6 4-4 Stefanos Tsitsipas
11:17 , Jamie Braidwood
Tsitsipas replies with a solid hold of his own, and a reminder that he is not done yet in this match. We’re into the crucial moments now.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6 4-3 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
11:13 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic has to pause ahead of his second serve as a baby cries in the crowd, but the level he has found now is much harder to disrupt. He crushes a forehand winner down the line for his second consecutive hold to love.
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6 3-3 Stefanos Tsitsipas
11:10 , Jamie Braidwood
Tsitsipas repeats the trick with a brilliant drop shot of his own, but then gets away with a second that Djokovic read - only for Tsitsipas to show good hands at the net. Tsitsipas gets the hold with the help of a brilliant backhand winner down the line.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6 3-2 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
11:05 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic gets a hold to love - timing, which was on display with a lovely sliced drop shot that died on the bounce.
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6 2-2 Stefanos Tsitsipas
11:01 , Jamie Braidwood
This is another big test for Tsitsipas, and Djokovic puts the pressure on as he directs a crosscourt backhand into his feet and the Greek nets on the volley.
15-30, but he finds the ace and then wins a long rally with an inside out forehand winner down the line.
Ace again. Good hold.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6 2-1 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
10:56 , Jamie Braidwood
That is just classic Djokovic - Tsitsipas had been pushing for a break for two hours and got it. But Djokovic’s opponents are often at their most vulnerable when they are offered a glimmer of hope.
Djokovic broke straight back and his level looks to be back, too, he plays a couple of formidable points to take control of his service game and edges ahead on the scoreboard in this set.
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6 1-1 Stefanos Tsitsipas - Djokovic breaks!
10:52 , Jamie Braidwood
Tsitsipas looks to conintue the momentum as he gets to 30-0, but then Djokovic steps in to put away a backhand return for a winner and shows great defence to get to 30-30.
All of a sudden, as he draws the error from Tsitsipas, Djokovic gets break point. Tstisipas saves the first but Djokovic comes again, moving Tsitsipas around the court before putting away the backhand winner down the line.
Djokovic ramps up the pressure on the return, opening the angle. Tsitsipas pulls wide and Djokovic breaks straight back.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6 0-1 Stefanos Tsitsipas* - Tsitsipas breaks!
10:41 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic is back out after about five minutes off court. To make matters worse for Tsitsipas, he will serve to start the third set. The Greek needs an early break.
And Tsitsipas gets an early chance as a big forehand crosscourt clips the line to get the 0-30! Tsitsipas nets, and then complains to the umpire about a light behind the court.
But he does force break point! Djokovic goes long on the stretch and its 15-40. Djokovic clips the baseline and Tsitsipas can’t move his feet as he goes long.
30-40: First serve out wide from Djokovic, but then he steers the backhand wide! Tsitsipas gets a break to start the third and this match may be alive after all!
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6 Stefanos Tsitsipas - Djokovic wins the second set!
10:34 , Jamie Braidwood
After saving set point at 4-5, Djokovic takes it on the tiebreak and moves another step closer to a 10th title.
Djokovic takes an off-court break and Tsitsipas, who had chances there, will need to pick himself. It’s a long, long way back from here.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6 Stefanos Tsitsipas - Djokovic wins the second set!
10:29 , Jamie Braidwood
Oof. Double fault from Djokovic! It’s back on serve as Djokovic hands the mini-break back. 4-3
Big serve from Tsitsipas! Djokovic puts a tired backhand into the net! Back level. 4-4
Tsitsipas swats a ball away in frustration! Another forehand error from the Greek. 5-4
The shouts from the crowd are continuing into the tiebreak, distracting both players.
Tsitsipas gets a good return in play, but Djokovic works it back to the Tsitsipas backhand. Long! 6-4
Two set points.
Djokovic with the serve out wide, and Tsitsipas nets on the return!
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-6 Stefanos Tsitsipas - Tiebreak!
10:25 , Jamie Braidwood
Here we go, but Tsitsipas starts with a poor forehand miss from the baseline, and on serve! 1-0
Great response from Tsitsipas - he takes on a backhand down the line and moves into the court to put away the smash as Djokovic stretched. 1-1
First serve Djokovic - forehand winner Djokovic. 2-1.
Another poor forehand miss from Tsitsipas! Djokovic clips the top of the net but Tsitsipas was wild from the baseline. 3-1
Then the return from Djokovic plants onto the baseline, leading to another forehand miss from Tsitsipas into the net! 4-1
Tsitsipas makes a good return to the baseline and Djokovic, off balance, gives Tsitsipas a chance. 4-2
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-6 Stefanos Tsitsipas
10:23 , Jamie Braidwood
Tsitsipas gives up a couple of cheap points on forehand errors, allowing Djokovic to get to 30-0.
There’s a double fault from Djokovic on 40-0, his first...
Tsitsipas goes on the attack, forcing Djokovic to net.
But then Tsitsipas nets on the forehand, and we’re off to a tiebreak!
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 5-6 Stefanos Tsitsipas
10:17 , Jamie Braidwood
A love hold for Tsitsipas! Just what was needed. Djokovic will need to serve to stay in it again.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 5-5 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
10:11 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic throws another error long and for the third service game in a row, Tsitsipas will have a look at 15-30.
Big error from Tsitsipas! A woeful mishit on the forehand crosscourt.
But Djokovic pushes wide on the backhand down the line!
Tsitsipas gets his first break point of the match, and it’s a set point!
There are cheers at Djokovic missing the first serve...
And it’s followed by a tense baseline rally! Tsitsipas maybe isn’t aggressive enough, and Djokovic steps in to put the forehand winner down the line!
Deuce. Long from Tsitsipas!
And Tsitsipas can’t control the forehand!
Djokovic escapes!
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 4-5 Stefanos Tsitsipas
10:07 , Jamie Braidwood
Another big hold from Tsitsipas, after he jumped to a 40-0 lead. Tsitsipas has deserved to get to five games. His serving iswell up, allowing the forehand to come in, which he is hitting freely and is allowing him to take positions inside the baseline.
Djokovic, who looks irritated, will now serve to stay in the set.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 4-4 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
10:02 , Jamie Braidwood
Tsitsipas arrows in a forehand as Djokovic, off balance, hacks a forehand wide. It’s another chance at 15-30, as Tsitsipas presses for his first break point of the match.
Djokovic clips the netcord and as Tsitsipas comes in, he just pushes his slices long.
30-30: Tsitsipas comes up with a brilliant angle on the backhand, and again comes into the net. But he can’t make the backhand volley, and it crashes into the net!
40-30: wide from Tsitsipas on the backhand.
Djokovic gets the hold. These are big, big moments and Tsitsipas must hold on if he is to have a chance.
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 3-4 Stefanos Tsitsipas
09:54 , Jamie Braidwood
Tsitsipas looks to fire up his fans with an opening winner, but Djokovic locks in with two forehand returns and forces his opponent to look at him on 15-30.
Big point for Tsitsipas, and as he sends the backhand winner past Djokovic the Serbian stumbles and falls to the ground!
He looks to be ok, but Tsitsipas will take some belief in sending his opponent running. He powers a forehand winner, and then takes charge of the following point with more aggresive play.
But Djokovic hangs in on the defence, and Tsitsipas can’t put away the volley at the net!
Deuce. Oof. Tsitsipas comes into the net again and clips the line with the driven forehand. Djokovic turns to his box in fury.
And Tsitsipas gets a big hold! He directs a backhand at Djokovic’s feet and he can’t make the pick-up volley.
Djokovic looks edgy all of a sudden.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 3-3 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
09:51 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic dropped the first point on serve for the first time in the match, but is able to put his foot down and stroll away with the hold. Tsitisipas is not able to do enough with the returns but Djokovic’s accuracy is unerring.
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 2-3 Stefanos Tsitsipas
09:43 , Jamie Braidwood
Tsitsipas stretches on the and suddenly is faced with a reverse of the 15-30 Djokovic had on the previous game.
The Greek lets out a roar as he forces Djokovic to miss in the exchange of forehands crosscourt, and then finds a first serve.
A costly double fault drags him to deuce, but Tsitsipas gets out of trouble with a forehand winner crosscourt. Djokovic looked frustrated with his return on the deuce point.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 2-2 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
09:39 , Jamie Braidwood
Interesting... Djokovic makes two unforced errors in a row and after 50 minutes of play Tsitsipas is allowed a look at his opponent’s serve.
Djokovic takes over the point on the second serve, moving in to put away the smash. He did so again on 30-30, with a good first serve being followed by the attack to the Tsitsipas backhand.
Ace, and Tsitsipas has the door slammed in his face.
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 1-2 Stefanos Tsitsipas
09:33 , Jamie Braidwood
Yeah, much better from Tsitsipas, the serve allows him to swing more freely on the forehand from inside the court, and he gets another hold to love.
The scoreboard pressure will help him in this second set, too, as he serves first before Djokovic.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 1-1 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
09:32 , Jamie Braidwood
Tsitsipas is serving better now, that was clear in the closing stages of the opening set. It gets him the opening hold of serve quite comfortably, but Djokovic too is able to rattle out a hold, with a serve being followed by another forehand winner and a continuation of the one-two punch.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 6-3 Stefanos Tsitsipas* - Djokovic wins the first set!
09:24 , Jamie Braidwood
Tsitsipas is able to get the better of another baseline exchange but the kick serve from Djokovic, wide and high to the Tsitipas backhand, brings up two set points.
Tsitsipas stretches on the Djokovic first serve, and the Serbian takes the first big step towards a 10th Australian Open title.
That was a sublime set, against a very good player in Tsitsipas. He made it look easy. He won 17 of 18 points on his first serve...
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 5-3 Stefanos Tsitsipas
09:20 , Jamie Braidwood
Ahead of the second set there is at least some encouragement for Tsitsipas, as he belts two more aces out wide. If he can increase that first-serve percentage he will have less problems.
Djokovic, though, can close it out next.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 5-2 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
09:16 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic has won 13 of 14 first serve points to start this final - a staggering percentage of 93 per cent. It’s just so accurate, and it allows him to open the court on the forehand.
He moves a game away from the opening the set.
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 4-2 Stefanos Tsitsipas
09:12 , Jamie Braidwood
Tsitsipas looks to change it up and come forward, but Djokovic just steers the backhand winner past him.
Tsitsipas puts away the backhand winner down the line off the first serve, but then nets on the forehand.
An ace gets him to 30-30, before a rare baseline error from Djokovic. The Greek fans are desperately trying to rally Tsitsipas, and he gets his hold with an ace out wide.
But the 24-year-old is having to fight and scrap for every hold right now.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 4-1 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
09:08 , Jamie Braidwood
This is a different Tsitsipas to the player we have seen all tournament. In getting to the final he was so confident in taking charge of the points and opening up on his forehand, but Djokovic isn’t allowing him to take that approach so far.
Djokovic again jumps into a 40-0 lead. Tsitsipas gets his drop shot wrong and Djokovic can smack away a forehand winner crosscourt.
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 3-1 Stefanos Tsitsipas - Djokovic breaks!
09:04 , Jamie Braidwood
If the tennis is this good all match, we’re in for a treat. Tsitsipas wins a 25-shot rally off a forehand volley at the net, after both players probed and tested their opponent on each wing.
Djokovic, though, is applying serious pressure early on and Tsitsipas needs another ace out wide to get to 30-30.
Djokovic pushes a forehand right into the corner and Tsitsipas hacks a return wide - setting up another break point.
Double fault from Tsitsipas! That is the pressure showing through. Djokovic gets the break.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 2-1 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
08:57 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic jumps to 40-0 in the blink of an eye, before steering a backhand winner down the line to hold to love.
The crowd of Djokovic fans outside the Rod Laver Arena is quite something - a red wave of Serbian shirts.
Australian Open 2023: *Novak Djokovic 1-1 Stefanos Tsitsipas
08:54 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic’s defence draws the first two errors from Tsitsipas - and the Greek is faced with a tricky spot already at 0-30.
Ace from Tsitsipas, but then Djokovic extends the rally and targets the Tsitsipas backhand, which is loose and flies long.
Two break points: and another big serve from Tsitsipas down the middle.
Djokovic’s return is extraordinary on the next point, but he then goes long on the forehand!
Deuce: another baseline exchange goes in Tsitsipas’ favour, as Djokovic goes long.
Ace from Tsitsipas out wide! Wow - that’s some hold from 15-40.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic 1-0 Stefanos Tsitsipas*
08:50 , Jamie Braidwood
Tsitsipas fires wide on the first return, then Djokovic plants a winner crosscourt. It’s followed by his first ace and although he shrugs at an error, he shakes it off with another forehand winner.
Some start.
The atmosphere is boisterous, you would say.
*denotes next server
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
08:46 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic has removed the heavy strapping around his left leg that he was wearing in the earlier rounds...
The nine-time champion will serve first. Here we go!
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
08:40 , Jamie Braidwood
Here come the players! Tsitsipas is out on court first, followed by Djokovic. What a noise inside the Rod Laver Arena, it’s more like a World Cup match than a grand slam final.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
08:38 , Jamie Braidwood
Nine Australian Open final wins in a row...
27 Australian Open wins in a row...
Unbeaten on Rod Laver Arena since 2018
A 22nd grand slam title on the line
The small task facing Stefanos Tsitsipas today, as Novak Djokovic bids for tennis history.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
08:27 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic vs Tsitsipas is also a clash of two passionate groups of tennis supporters: Serbia and Greece. Both sets of fans make the presence known at the Australian Open and it could be a crazy atmosphere in the Rod Laver Arena today.
“Both Greece and Serbia have put the map with tennis as a big contender in big events,” Tsitsipas said. “Serbia is also a very small country, just like Greece. They have produced a lot of good players. Someone that has led the country when it came to tennis. Not a very big country. I hope we in Greece can achieve the same thing they have in recent years, win multiple Grand Slams.”
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
08:21 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic and Tsitsipas have, without doubt, been the two best players so far in Melbourne, which can be see by the dominance of their scorelines through to the final. Only Tsitsipas, against Jannik Sinner in the fourth round, was pushed to five sets.
Djokovic route to final:
1st round: 6-3 6-4 6-0 vs Carballes Baena
2nd round: 6-1 6-7 6-2 6-0 vs Couacaud
3rd round: 7-6 6-3 6-4 vs Dimitrov
4th round: 6-2 6-1 6-2 vs De Minaur (22)
Quarters: 6-1 6-2 6-4 vs Rublev (5)
Semis: 7-5 6-1 6-2 vs Paul
Tsitsipas route to final:
1st round: 6-3 6-3 7-6 vs Halys
2nd round: 6-3 6-0 6-2 vs Hijikata
3rd round: 6-2 7-6 6-3 vs Griekspoor
4th round: 6-4 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-3 vs Sinner (15)
Quarters: 6-3 7-6 6-4 vs Lehecka
Semis: 7-6 6-4 7-6 6-3 vs Khachanov (18)
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
08:15 , Jamie Braidwood
Novak Djokovic has won his last nine matches against Stefanos Tsitsipas, including in the 2021 French Open final.
Tsitsipas was two sets up in the final but Djokovic fought from two sets down in a grand slam final for the first time in his career.
Asked about the final this week, Tsitsipas joked: “I don’t remember”.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
08:04 , Jamie Braidwood
Novak Djokovic said before the semi-finals that his bid for the Australian Open was being fuelled by his deportation from the country last year.
“I don’t think that I lack determination,” Djokovic said. “I always try to give my best, particularly in Grand Slams, because at this stage of my career those are the tournaments that count the most, of course.
“But you could say that there is something extra this year, yeah. You could say because of the injury, what happened last year. I just wanted to really do well.
“So far I have a perfect score in Australian hard courts, in Adelaide and here. I’ve been playing better and better. I couldn’t ask for a better situation to be in at the moment.”
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
07:56 , Jamie Braidwood
Novak Djokovic ahead of the Australian Open final: “This is exactly what I’ve imagined and hoped that will happen when I came to Australia, with intention to be in a position to fight for another Australian Open trophy.
“I think that the experience of being in this particular situation and circumstances before helps. I think also the fact that I never lost the Australian Open finals definitely serves as a great confidence booster prior to Sunday. But, of course, still the job needs to be done on the court.
I’m going to play against Tsitsipas, who is in a great shape, great form, has been playing some of his best tennis. I’m sure that he’s going to be very motivated to win his first Grand Slam title.
“I know his game pretty well. He knows my game well. We played several times in different surfaces. We played in one Grand Slam finals, was on clay, though, in Roland Garros some years ago.”
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
07:44 , Jamie Braidwood
Stefanos Tsitsipas on playing the World No 1 position in the Australian Open final: “I remember watching it on TV saying to myself, I want to be there one day myself. I want to recreate that feeling for me. I knew that’s a very long journey to get there.
“There are certain steps you have to take to give yourself the chance to be competing for something like this. But I very much believed it. I very much believed it. First of all, it’s your ego that speaks. You either have it or not, you know? As a kid, I was very confident.
“Thank God I was good in my country. Starting from that, I knew if I’m able to get out of my country and compete in other countries, European leagues, European tours, I proved myself over and over again that I’m actually good. I did finish as a junior No. 1. Now I want to do it in the men’s side, in the men’s professional tennis.”
Australian Open 2023
07:34 , Jamie Braidwood
Aryna Sabalenka’s first grand slam final began with a double fault. Her first Championship point, too, was a double fault. But in between, Sabalenka produced a near faultless display of the improvements she has made to her game, as the 24-year-old battled from a set down to defeat Elena Rybakina in a thrilling Australian Open final. Sabalenka’s first grand slam title required three more Championship points to close it out. There, as she had done so impressively since falling behind, Sabalenka kept her cool to prevail in what was an absorbing contest.
In almost two and a half hours on Rod Laver Arena, Sabalenka’s newly-found mental toughness was put under the fiercest of examinations by the Wimbledon champion. In another time, Sabalenka may well have crumbled, but her response was controlled and measured as she came through to win the women’s final.
Aryna Sabalenka defeats Elena Rybakina to win Australian Open in three-set thriller
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
07:25 , Jamie Braidwood
As Novak Djokovic continued to move through the distractions, history now awaits in the Australian Open final. The Serbian is into his 10th in Melbourne and stands on the verge of joining Rafael Nadal on 22nd grand slam titles after shaking off an uncertain start and some new controversy to motor past Tommy Paul in straight sets in the semi-finals. A “crisis” midway through the first set was one of a few uncomfortable moments the 35-year-old has encountered on his return to Australia, the latest the emergence of a video of his father Srdjan posing with Vladimir Putin supporters on Wednesday night.
After last year’s deportation and this year’s hamstring injury, it was another obstacle for Djokovic to face after his smooth progress past Alex De Minaur and Andrey Rublev in the previous rounds. Srdjan, who said he was unwittingly caught up in the pro-Russian demonstration, was absent from his box and in the opening stages against Paul, Djokovic cut a frustrated and irritated figure. Edgy and wide-eyed, Djokovic blew a 5-1 lead in the first set among an avalanche of unforced errors, offering Paul a leg-up into what was the first grand slam semi-final of the 25-year-old’s career.
“It got to me,” Djokovic admitted. “I was struggling physically and emotionally. I guess at the final stages of a slam, you can expect to have one or two or three crises. The less the better. But I did have one.” It would have been an encouraging sight for Stefanos Tsitsipas, the in-form and confident Greek who awaits in Sunday’s final.
What followed, however, was a further example of why Djokovic maintains an unbeaten record in Australian Open semi-final, and underlined the task facing Tsitsipas today.
Novak Djokovic overcomes ‘crisis’ to underline task facing Stefanos Tsitsipas
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
07:15 , Jamie Braidwood
Novak Djokovic on his father: “As my father put in a statement, we are against the war, we never will support any violence or any war. We know how devastating that is for the family, for people in any country that is going through the war.
“There was no intention. It can happen. It can happen to many people, what happened to him. He was passing through, made a photo, it has escalated.
“He was misused in this situation by this group of people. That’s what happened. I can’t be angry with him or upset because I can say it was not his fault. He went out to celebrate with my fans, and that’s it. That’s all that happened.
“After that, of course he felt bad because of me and he knew how that’s going to reflect on me, the whole media pressure and everything that has happened in the last 24 hours, 48 hours.”
Novak Djokovic defends father after video with Vladimir Putin supporters
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
07:12 , Jamie Braidwood
Novak Djokovic said his father did not intend to pose for pictures with supporters of Vladimir Putin at the Australian Open.
Djokovic’s father Srdjan caused controversy on Wednesday when he was filmed standing next to a Russian flag with Putin’s face on it, and a man who wore the ‘Z’ logo that indicates support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Srdjan Djokovic insisted earlier on Friday that he was unwittingly caught up in the pro-Russian demonstration, which took place in Melbourne Park following Djokovic’s quarter-final victory over the Russian player Andrey Rublev.
Djokovic’s father did not attend his son’s semi-final match against Tommy Paul as he did not want to be a “disruption” and the Serbian explained after the match that the images were a “misinterpretation” of what happened.
Djokovic said his father unknowingly stopped to greet the pro-Russian demonstrators, thinking they were holding Serbian flags. The 35-year-old also refuted allegations that his father had said “Long live Russia” when leaving the group, insisting the phrase had been mistranslated.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
07:06 , Jamie Braidwood
If you could had to bet your life on a tennis player, you would choose Djokovic at the Australian Open. After nine wins in a row in Melbourne finals he looks certain to win a 10th. Tsitsipas will give him his best test yet this year, and may even take a set, but it’s hard to see how anyone could beat Djokovic over five on this form. Djokovic wins in four
What are the odds?
Djokovic: 2/9
Tsitsipas: 39/10
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
07:03 , Jamie Braidwood
The Australian Open men’s final between Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas will start from 8:30am GMT on Sunday 29 January.
How to watch the Australian Open 2023
You can watch the Australian Open live on Eurosport in the UK. The action will be broadcast on Eurosport’s TV channels, or fans can tune into Discovery+ to stream the tournament, where an Entertainment & Sport pass is available for either £6.99/month or £59.99/year.
Sky has also announced that starting today, Discovery+ will be available at no extra cost for Sky customers, including for Sky Glass and Sky Stream customers.
If you’re not already a Sky customer, you can get a Sky Stream box, which comes with Sky TV and a Netflix basic plan. The device is currently discounted in Sky’s winter sale (was £26 per month, now £24 per month, Sky.com). This is Sky’s new device, and doesn’t require a satellite dish as it streams Sky directly over wifi.
Good morning
07:02 , Jamie Braidwood
Hello and welcome to live coverage Australian Open men’s final as Novak Djokovic plays Stefanos Tsitsipas with tennis history on the line in Melbourne. Djokovic is aiming to join Rafael Nadal on a men’s record 22 grand slam titles, with what would be his 10th Australian Open victory. The Serbian was deported from Australia 12 months ago amid a political storm over his exemption for the Covid vaccine, but is now a win away from sealing a triumphant and historic return.
Tsitsipas, who has reached his first Australian Open final, faces one of the toughest tasks in sport as the Greek looks to end Djokovic’s winning streak in Melbourne. The 35-year-old has won his last 27 matches at the Australian Open and has won all nine of the finals he has played at the Rod Laver Arena. Tsitsipas’ previous grand slam final appearance came at the 2021 French Open, where Djokovic fought from two sets down to win the title.
