Novak Djokovic beats Daniil Medvedev to lift ninth Australian Open title
World number one Novak Djokovic’s 7-5 6-2 6-2 win on his favourite court - the Rod Laver Arena - secured his 18th Grand Slam title, bringing him within tantalising reach of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal’s all-time men’s record of 20.
Much like Dominic Thiem in last year’s final, Novak Djokovic faced an opponent desperate for a seat at the Grand Slam table. Unlike Thiem, who pushed Djokovic to five sets, Daniil Medvedev never threatened in his second major final. Djokovic made a mockery of the Russian’s 20-match winning streak and his pre-match barb that all the pressure was on the champion.
Novak Djokovic beats Daniil Medvedev to lift ninth Australian Open title
Novak Djokovic beats Daniil Medvedev to lift ninth Australian Open title
Novak Djokovic beats Daniil Medvedev to lift ninth Australian Open title
Novak Djokovic beats Daniil Medvedev to lift ninth Australian Open title
With a fortune spent to put on a biosecure tournament amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Djokovic came into the Grand Slam under fire after offending the Australian public for petitioning organisers to ease quarantine conditions for players. He suffered a painful abdominal injury in the first week and had to manage it through the second. (Twitter/australianopen)