Novak Djokovic was well on his way to his first finalenederlag at the Australian Open on Sunday against femteseedede Dominic Thiem, but the Serbian star broke back and took his eighth triumph in Melbourne.
Andenseedede Djokovic came back after having been down 1-2 in sets. He ended up taking the victory with a 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3 and 6-4 in a maratondyst of four hours.
Thiem had won four of the last five meetings with Djokovic, but three of the victories had come on clay.
nevertheless, he knew the recipe for success. It succeeded only partially in the final, where Djokovic' routine helped the serb back and ensured him of its 17. the grand slam title in his career.
This was Thiem nor the man who broke the dominance of "The Big Three", like Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer called.
The big three have now shared the most recent 13 grand slam titles between them, and from 2004 to now they have three taken no less than 55 of the 65 grand slam titles.
The defending champion came in on schedule from the country, and with offensive tennis to tame he Thiem and brought out in front 3-0 in the first set.
the Austrian found his way into the fight again. His heavy and dangerous advance started to make the point to him, and in the seventh lot, managed to fighte to servegennembrud.
But Thiems nerves seemed frayed as it was. He got defeated the first sætbold to Djokovic in a private serv, but shortly after sent a double faults yet set in serb hands.
Novak Djokovic was out in a marathon match, before he could let himself shelf as the winner. Photo: Manan Vatsyayana/Ritzau Scanpix
the Second set was almost a copy of the first - but with the reverse outcome. Here was Djokovic, who fought back from an early break at 4-4, only to see Thiem snatch the set with a 6-4 at the end.
Djokovic' number of errors was increasing, while the adult austrian tankede more and more self-confidence.
Even began, the Serbian verdenstoer, on Monday, advancing to first, problems to score points on his andenserv.
He seemed worn out, although it was Thiem who had a day less rest since the semi-finals. And that had been on the field six hours more than Djokovic during the tournament.
But the austrian was fresh, and from the third sets the start pressed he Djokovic in the bottom.
He roared to 4-0, and at its fourth sætbold took home a he the set with 6-2.
the Man with the record number of titles at the Rod Laver Arena was for real pressure, and you could see on both the game and the attitude that it is not ran for him.
He kept his dog inside the fight in the fourth set, and when a great master suddenly faced with breakmulighed at a crucial time, then he strikes for.
the Serb did it again. Photo: Saeed Khan/Ritzau Scanpix
Djokovic broke Thiem to 5-3 and spill subsequent secure set home.
the Momentum was changed. Again. Djokovic had grabbed a life buoy, and he had no intention to get rid of it.
He broke Thiem 2-1 in the decisive set and outlasted even two breakbolde in the subsequent batch.
the Austrian kept the pressure on Djokovic all the way in a blazing finale and survived even a breakbold, which could have sent the serb in the front with 5-2.
instead, the king of the Melbourne slide to the last and to serve the match home with 6-4 in the decisive set.
Ten years of winners of the Australian Open in men's singles
Novak Djokovic won on Sunday, his eighth title at the Australian Open, when he after four hours of tennis, overcame Dominic Thiem in the fifth and decisive set.
Thus, reinforcement of the serb his record for the number of triumphs in the tournament.
Here are the last ten winners of the grand slam tournament in Melbourne.
* 2020: Novak Djokovic (Serbia).
* 2019: Novak Djokovic (Serbia).
* 2018: Roger Federer (Switzerland).
* 2017: Roger Federer (Switzerland).
* 2016: Novak Djokovic (Serbia).
* 2015: Novak Djokovic (Serbia).
* 2014: Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland).
* 2013: Novak Djokovic (Serbia).
* 2012: Novak Djokovic (Serbia).
* 2011: Novak Djokovic (Serbia).
Source: ATP.
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