Novak Djokovic returns to world No. 1 after Australian Open win

The Australian Open finished Sunday as Novak Djokovic won the title, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets in the final match at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

Novak Djokovic celebrates with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup trophy a day after his victory against Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas in the men's singles final match of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Sunday. [YONHAP]

The Australian Open finished Sunday as Novak Djokovic won the title, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets in the final match at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

The thirty-five-year-old Serbian’s victory in the final of the men’s singles marked his 22 Grand Slam title and 10th Australian Open title. It was the first ever Australia Open final for Tsitsipas, who was also the first ever Greek player to reach the final.

Djokovic is the second man ever to win 10 titles at a Grand Slam, alongside Rafael Nadal at the French Open, and the first to do so in Australia. The two are also now tied with the record 22 grand slam titles.

Tsitsipas made Djokovic work for this historic 2023 title, forcing tie-breaks in the second and third set before eventually conceding to the new world No. 1.

Djokovic most-recently won the tournament in 2021 but was unable to defend his title at the 2022 Australian Open when the Australian government revoked his visa because he had not been vaccinated for Covid-19.

“This has been one of the more challenging tournaments I’ve ever played in my life, considering the circumstances,” Djokovic said after the win.

“Not playing last year, coming back this year. I want to thank all the people who made me feel welcome, made me feel comfortable. Only the team and family knows what we’ve been through these last four to five weeks and this is the biggest victory of my life considering those circumstances.”

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]