MELBOURNE: Amid Covid-19 pandemic, the Australian Open might have seen many changes but the results remain the same: It’s Novak Djokovic all the way. On Sunday, the world No.1 tennis player defeated Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in the finals of the Australian Open 2021 here at the Rod Laver Arena to clinch his 9th Australian title, bringing him within tantalising reach of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal’s all-time men’s record of 20.
“I would like to thank Rod Laver Arena. I love you each year more and more. It’s been a love affair that keeps growing. Thank you so much,” Djokovic said as he cradled the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup once again.
This is the 18th Grand Slam win for the Serbian player. The Serbian Djokovic came out all guns blazing and it seemed as if he did not want to waste time in winning his 18th Grand Slam, but Medvedev eventually came back and the set was tied at 5-5. However, in the end, Djokovic showed his class to win the first set 7-5 in about 42 minutes.
The 33-year-old Djokovic made light work of Medvedev in the second set and the Serbian won the second set with ease and as a result, he was just one more set away from winning his ninth Australian Open title.
Djokovic had no trouble in winning the third set as well and with this, the Serbian ended up winning the match in straight sets. Earlier, Djokovic had defeated Aslan Karatsev in the semi-finals while Medvedev had outclassed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals.
Nadal is the only man to have won more titles at a single Grand Slam, with his 13 at the French Open. Djokovic now has won six majors after the age of 30, equalling Nadal’s record.
On Saturday, Japan’s Naomi Osaka had won her second Australian Open title after she defeated America’s Jennifer Brady in the finals. Osaka outclassed Brady 6-4, 6-3 in the finals that was played at the Rod Laver Arena.
With this win, Osaka registered her fourth Grand Slam title and she also improved her ranking to the second spot.
