A victory like no other for Novak Djokovic. From disowned to crowned. From deportee to champion to catch Rafa Nadal in the race for the Grand Slams, lift his 22nd major title and unseat Carlos Alcaraz as the new world ranking leader. As if he played three-way billiards, the Balkan achieved all that in Melbourne, where he reigned for the tenth time. Of course, he celebrated it like never before. First, slowly. Raising one hand to his head and the other to his heart. Mental capacity and courage as the engines of a 35-year-old tennis player who does not always have the wind in his favor because he likes to go head-to-head with spectators, rivals and critics. Minutes later his emotions were unleashed. He went to the box where his coaching staff and his relatives were and burst into tears when he hugged his mother and his brother. He is in the habit of winning, but he had never shown his happiness as much as after beating a worthy rival like the Greek Stéfanos Tsitsipás in 2 hours and 55 minutes.
"It's the most important win of my life considering the circumstances." What circumstances are you referring to? In the extra-sports field, to the memory of what happened a year ago, when the Australian authorities expelled him from the country for not wanting to get vaccinated against the coronavirus amid strong controversy, a shocking media show and a more than questionable attitude on his part. "I didn't know how they were going to receive me, I was more nervous than usual before coming here, but I thank all those who have made me feel comfortable in Melbourne," Djokovic said in his speech as champion. His father was not in the stands. The champion and his parent decided that he not attend after the video in which Srdjan Djokovic was seen with supporters of Vladimir Putin.
Although the obstacle that worried the player the most during these weeks was related to his body. In the sporting aspect, a muscle injury did not allow her to move comfortably, although as the games went by her level and her physique improved until she became the usual crusher. Tsitsipás tried everything and in the last two sets he balanced the game with superb tennis, but it was not enough to lengthen the fight.
“I had to make an extra effort on a mental level, because of 2022 and because of my discomfort. I couldn't distract myself, just focus on tennis. I have achieved it. Only my family and my team know what I have had to go through. Hence my tears. They are immensely satisfying”, said the Serbian champion. His coach, Goran Ivanisevic, abounded on this point. “After the last medical tests that he underwent before the tournament, most of the tennis players would have gone to the organization to announce their withdrawal from the competition, but Novak decided to take a risk and continue. He is an amazing guy. He still has the rope to spend two or three more years at a high level ”.
At the moment he has climbed back to the top of the ranking (Alcaraz goes to number 2 and Nadal falls to 6) half a year after giving in at Roland Garros with the Spaniard. Neither that defeat nor missing other important tournaments, such as Flushing Meadows, for not getting vaccinated made him give up. Since the month of June he has chained 36 victories in 37 games and already has 93 titles in his career, to Nadal's 92.
Both are in autumnal age and have the challenge of being the male tennis player with the greatest age ahead of them and also trying to hunt down Margaret Court, the absolute leader in this field, with 24.
The two have known how to get up from setbacks as if there were no tomorrow to star in the most repeated rivalry in tennis history. “The Grand Slams are the motivation that keeps me here. At my age these titles have a more special flavor. If I'm good I can win against anyone anywhere. But nothing is written. I don't know how long I have left in the elite. It will depend on my body, my head and my family balance”, reflected Djokovic.
This wonderful race continues. The Serbian Novak Djokovic (4) beat the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (3) in the final of the Australian Open 6-3, 7-6(4) and 7-6(5) in two hours and 56 minutes, and equaled the Spanish Rafael Nadal with 22 Grand Slam titles. The Serbian was decisive in the most crucial moments and won his tenth Australian Open championship in the final at a sold-out Rod Laver Arena. The victory allows Djokovic to return to No. 1 in the ATP rankings, until now in the hands of Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
