KING Return of the

Back at his Melbourne Park stronghold, 10 for 10

Australian Open finals for a record-equalling 22nd major, Novak Djokovic is on the cusp of his cherished place in history.

Is there anything in tennis bigger than the ambition of Novak Djokovic? The brash young challenger who won his rst major in Melbourne 15 years ago and set his sights on toppling the legendary doubleheader of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, is on the verge of his long-ago imagined place in history. As all-time greatest.

Never has the Djokovic juggernaut looked more unstoppable than the roll to a 10th Australian title from 10 nals, levelling with Nadal on a record 22 majors. The superstar Serb’s 6-3 7-6(4) 7-6(5) nal victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas was tense, though never in doubt, despite a set point against his serve late in the second set.

But the emotional toll was obvious as Djokovic climbed into his box, tearfully embraced family and collapsed sobbing.

“This is probably the biggest victory in my life, considering the circumstances,” he told an awed Rod Laver Arena.

Neither the searing deportation saga of 2022, the le hamstring he injured while winning Adelaide in the rst week of the year, nor the controversy of his father being pictured with Russian nationalists could throw Djokovic from his mission to stand alone as the greatest men’s major winner.

The 35-year-old looks destined to stand at the pinnacle, perhaps as early as Roland Garros, while Nadal – a wounded secondround loser as defending champion – endures another injury-enforced absence.

In

By SUZI PETKOVSKI

Revenge tour? Redemption? Djokovic was certainly on a mission to regain his Melbourne Park stronghold, admitting the restorm of controversy last January and the questioning (even mocking) of his injury gave him ‘something extra’.

Leg heavily strapped, subjecting himself to 77 daily treatments (according to coach Goran Ivanisevic), Djokovic powered through the draw for the loss of one set – ironically to his lowest-ranked opponent, No.190 French quali er Enzo Couacaud, in the second round. Ominous momentum started to build against Grigor Dimitrov in round three, despite obviously restricted movement by the best mover in the game. Djokovic hit peak ruthless against Alex de Minaur in the fourth round, allowing the last Aussie hope ve games. Andrey Rublev was con ned to seven games and a 0-7 mark in major quarter nals.

Newbie semi nalist Tommy Paul threw a spanner in the Djokovic machinery, levelling at 5-all from 1-5 down in the rst set, but gathered three games therea er.

Djokovic was openly more nervous about the reception from fans than his ability to win a 10th title at his pet event. He was reassured by raucous support in Adelaide (where he won the title from match point down in a cracking nal against Sebastian Korda). A soldout practice match with Nick Kyrgios on the Friday before the Australian Open helped ease him into the Melbourne Park fold. By the night of the nal, an