On successful his 10th Australian Open on Sunday evening, Novak Djokovic did not scream or hurl his racquet within the air however as an alternative regarded to his field and pointed to his temple.
Indestructible, unassailable, he was saying, received within the head.
And actually it was.
Rafael Nadal’s long-time coach Uncle Toni has at all times stated that nevertheless bodily spectacular Rafa is, he is even stronger in his thoughts.
We are able to embrace Novak Djokovic in that sentiment too. Very a lot so.
By beating a resilient and first-class Stefanos Tsitsipas – who, let’s be trustworthy, by no means had a hope, nobody did – Djokovic now has 22 main titles (grand slams), degree with Nadal as the most effective ever.
Meticulous planning
He has been planning and dwelling this, minute by minute, ever since arriving in Australia 34 days in the past.
Make no mistake, this was probably the most meticulous and cathartic of campaigns.
The 2022 deportation? Gone. The good champion? Now and perpetually.
“He’s the best who has ever held a tennis racquet,” confirmed a really gracious Tsitsipas.
“I’m touched by Stefanos’ phrases,” retorted Djokovic, who assumed the statesman function and talked about dreaming large.
“It would not matter the place you’re coming from, the extra challenges you may have the stronger you grow to be.”
Nurture and water your goals, he stated, and dream large as a result of you can also make it.
“This trophy is yours as a lot as it’s mine,” he stated to his workforce within the stands earlier than speaking about how this AO had been one of the crucial difficult tournaments of his life.
“Solely the workforce and household know what we have now been by means of prior to now 4 or 5 weeks. It is most likely the most important victory of my life.”
Extra data to interrupt
The four-time AO champion Ken Rosewall introduced the trophy to Djokovic. It was 19 years between Ken’s first win right here, in 1953, and his final. One other document for Novak to intention for?
Quantity 22 although was within the stars from the second Novak appeared on court docket minus the heavy strapping round his much-studied thigh.
It was not there, not wanted, surplus. Tsitsipas may have observed pronto, everybody else current did.
One nil to Novak and shortly he was set down, in simply 36 minutes. It wasn’t a lot that he performed badly however that he did not play in any respect. Djokovic would not let him.
The next set was higher, probably the most delicate of drop pictures by Tsitsipas at 3-2 introduced a crowd eruption however the Serb smashed away the subsequent level and clouted away the purpose after and the sport was gone only a minute after it threatened a revival. It was the story of the match.
For lengthy spells the Greek might dwell with the Serb however he could not take it on and get previous him. A neck-and-neck second set – there was only one break level, and that to Tsitsipas – fell, predictably the Serb’s manner on a tiebreak.
A ordinary rest room break for Djokovic on the two-set mark full, he reappeared in a brand new, business-blue shirt to wrap up the match.
The third set copied its predecessor, tight all the best way, some traditional stroke play from each ends and Djokovic then untroubled within the tiebreak.
Third time fortunate
At 6-Three up and with three match factors Djokovic urged the gang on however help of any type was not wanted.
Probabilities one and two went lacking however on the third he rifled a forehand that clipped the road and he was accomplished, 6-Three 7-6 7-6 – every of the final two units taking 70 minutes.
He had regarded the half all evening.
Bear in mind when Andre Agassi had a designer shirt that was shorter on the entrance than the again and flew up flamboyantly when he belted a forehand?
Djokovic can try this in a regulation shirt such was his energy and intent. Ought to he have tattooed ‘Champion’ or ’22’ or related throughout his abdomen final evening we might have seen and skim it repeatedly.
Crowd pleaser
All of the whereas, one other equally seen assertion of intent was collaborating exterior RLA.
‘Cease Serbing’ is a slogan lengthy utilized by the Serbian neighborhood in opposition to its personal. Don’t be concerned it is the gist, chill. The whole lot can be OK.
Any Serbs inclined to such considering on Sunday may have been within the tiniest minority. There are 15,000 seats on RLA and on Sunday there have been an additional 30,000 supporters milling round Melbourne Park, lots of them of Serbian loyalty.
They’d been there since early afternoon, belongings draped over lots of the deckchair-style seats in the best way towels commandeer the most effective loungers at a lodge swimming pool.
Come 10.30pm it was bedlam, not in an aggressive method however actually you’d should be backing Novak to take pleasure in it.
Greek help was plentiful however appeared camped largely inside Rod Laver Enviornment, fluttering fitfully to life in tandem with its hero.
They knew what was coming. All of us did.
Begin of one thing particular
Djokovic received his first title right here in 2008, in opposition to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 4 units. It was one other two years earlier than he added one other main, once more in Melbourne, Andy Murray this time the sufferer.
He has wobbled. From the French Open in 2012 to the French in 2014 he performed six main finals however received just one, the Australian Open in fact in 2013, Andy Murray as soon as extra the ultimate sufferer.
Now of his previous 20 main finals, he has received 16.
He doesn’t include the panache of Federer nor the thump of Majorca’s most interesting however he will get it accomplished, cleanly and with out fuss.
He now holds 22 grand slams – together with 10 Australian Opens – however it’s virtually as if by changing into fixated on his numbers we have now missed his brilliance. And which, in contrast to his trophies, is immeasurable.
There was one man who regarded like a Greek god, however there was one other who performed like one.
Final evening and for the previous 15 years, we actually have been within the presence of greatness.
