Novak Djokovic Wins His 9th Australian Open Title

Novak Djokovic’s reign at the Australian Open continued with the Serbian player defeating Daniil Medvedev in the finals today. Novak was unstoppable, taking his ninth title after one hour and 53 minutes, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2.

“I love you each year more and more. The love affair keeps going,” Djokovic told after lifting the trophy, arousing the crowd at Rod Laver Arena.

It is no secret that Novak doesn’t have some solid relationship with the fans across the world, especially at Wimbledon or the US Open, but here in Australia, the Serb feels like home. And why wouldn’t he?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgaakrSshSU

In nine finals, the Joker won nine titles, breaking every important record connected with the season’s first Grand Slam. Thirteen years ago, back in 2008, he won his first major title here, and since then managed to win eight more, having two three-peats, with the possibility of making the current into a four in a
row.

Novak’s path towards the finals wasn’t easy, with him picking up a nasty abdomen injury in the third round against Taylor Fritz. Not only that, Djokovic faced big-time servers on his way, Tiafoe, Fritz, Raonic, Alexander Zverev. But at the end of the road, Novak is satisfied with the way everything concluded.

“There are a lot of mixed feelings about what has happened in the last month or so with tennis players coming to Australia, but I think when we draw a line at the end, it was a successful tournament.”

Djokovic trails Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal two Grand Slam titles, as he now has 18, and his two great rivals 20. But with today’s win, he will set one big record of his own, becoming the player with the most weeks spent atop the ATP Rankings.

After March 8, Novak will pass Roger Federer with 311 weeks being the first-ranked player in the world.

The 25-year old Medvedev, couldn’t stand up to the champion, and he didn’t look anywhere near the player who smashed his rivals in the previous two weeks. Aggressive, but without focus and proper mindset, the Russian was often making mistakes, digging himself deeper and deeper into the hole.

Federer, Nadal – 20
Djokovic – 18

Getting close on the podium…😬#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/9cb6KL1zax

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 21, 2021

His temper and hot-blood would occasionally appear, such in the moments once he broke the racquet or when he allowed being distracted by the fans from the stands. In the postgame interview, he admitted that Djokovic played better, adding that he thinks Novak will add a few more trophies to his AO collection.

“Congratulations to Novak and your team. Nine Grand Slams in Australia and 18 in total is an amazing thing, and it is probably not your last one,” said Medvedev during the trophy ceremony.

Apart from the first set, which saw Medvedev holding on, and the start of the second, once he managed to open that sequence with a breakpoint won, the Russian didn’t do much. Even though his serve was solid, he couldn’t break Djokovic’s return.

This was the second time that Medvedev loses the Grand Slam final, with the first one being in New York at the 2019 US Open. Djokovic stopped his 20-match winning streak. He closed the 2020 year by winning Paris Masters and ATP Nitto Finals, indicating that we might expect him to take a step forward this season. His performances at the Aussie Open are another proof that the Russian has enough potential to become a Grand Slam champion, but also, that he needs to improve some small details before lifting the trophy.