Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic completes his revenge mission against Australia

For 12 months Novak Djokovic stewed on his ugly deportation from Melbourne creating a monster who would not be denied his 22nd slam title.

Novak Djokovic celebrates with his family and coaching staff. Picture: Mark Stewart

A year on from his dramatic deportation, Novak Djokovic will pass through immigration control this time having to declare a record-extending tenth Australian Open title in his possession.

The man who was unceremoniously booted out of Melbourne by customs officers without even hitting a ball – following a brief, undignified spell in a detention centre – will exit the country on this occasion hailed as a hero not an outcast.

A clinical 6-3 7-6 7-6 victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas has now banished those painful memories of January 2022 when he created global headlines after being caught up in a major Covid vaccination row.

And Nick Kyrgios says Australia can take credit for creating “a monster.”

Haha I told you. We created a monster. Well done @DjokerNole …. Sat on my couch and enjoyed the entire show 💰🙏🏽 soak it all in….

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) January 29, 2023

He will get to 28 slams 😂 easy 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) January 29, 2023

Kyrgios saw it coming a mile away.

“For the sport, we need him here,” he said 12 months ago after Djokovic had been moved into a detention facility awaiting the outcome of his visa furore.

“I just want it to end. I’m feeling for him now, it’s not really humane what’s going on.”

He went on to say: “If he’s allowed to play the Australian Open, I don’t want any bar of him. I reckon he’s going to be p***ed off.

“He’s going to be very determined to play well and stick it to everyone of what’s going on. And I don’t want any bar of that Novak.”

(L-R) Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios meet on Rod Laver Arena. Picture: Mark Stewart

FEDERER BOWS BEFORE DJOKER

Roger Federer hailed Novak Djokovic’s “incredible effort” in winning a 10th Australian Open and a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title on Sunday.

“Incredible effort, again! Many congratulations,” the retired Federer, who won 20 majors, wrote in a brief message on Instagram.

Djokovic’s collection of 22 Grand Slam titles takes him level with Rafael Nadal. Djokovic at 35 is a year younger than Nadal who was the defending champion in Melbourne.

Nadal was knocked out in the second round and is facing up to eight weeks on the sidelines with a hip injury.

Former world number one Federer retired last year at the age of 41 after failing to recover from a knee injury.

Roger Federer congratulated Novak Djokovic via Instagram.

DJOKOVIC SEALS THE ULTIMATE REVENGE ON AUSTRALIA

- Scott Gullan

Revenge can come in all forms. For Novak Djokovic it was a 10th Australian Open title and a guaranteed place in history.

For 12 months the Serbian superstar had waited for this moment, the final of the Australian Open on the court which he has made his own over the past 15 years.

Rod Laver Arena was his playground and the fact he wasn’t allowed to play in it last year is something he’d been stewing on from the moment he was booted out of Australia for Covid visa issues.

Unfortunately for Stefanos Tsitsipas he was once again in the wrong place at the wrong time. His second loss in a grand slam final to Djokovic came after an intense 2hr 56min battle.

Djokovic’s emotions boiled over immediately after match point. He climbed into his players’ box and then collapsed, lying on the ground crying.

The Open champion eventually returned to his courtside chair where he buried his head and howled in tears.

Tsitsipas was a worthy participant in the historic moment of Djokovic’s 22nd grand slam title which drew him level with Rafael Nadal on the all-time grand slam titles list.

Novak Djokovic celebrates with his family and coaching staff. Picture: Mark Stewart

Despite being 35 years of age, the extraordinary level of tennis being played by Djokovic has many predicting it is only a matter of time before he claims the greatest grand slam player ever tag.

His takedown of Tsitsipas also moved Djokovic back to the No.1 world ranking, extending his own record to 374 weeks at the top of men’s tennis.

The magical tenth Australian Open crown - he won his first in 2008 - again was highlighted by his incredible ability to run down balls and keep points alive which ultimately proved too much for his younger opponent.

A prime example came in the fourth game of the opening set with Tsitsipas serving a double-fault to hand over the only service break.

Novak Djokovic celebrates his 10th title. Picture: Anthony Wallace/AFP

The second set was a different story as the 24-year-old started finding his range while Djokovic began spraying balls wide and becoming agitated with his players’ box.

Tsitsipas, who had only won two of the pair’s 12 matches coming in, had a set point on Djokovic’s serve at 4-5 but failed to step up in the moment which is usually fatal against the best player on the planet.

In the tie-break everything changed, there was another double fault from Tsitsipas and some typical Djokovic brilliance which saw him take it after 70 absorbing minutes.

The third set followed a familiar formula. Djokovic absorbed pressure, got his nose in front - at one stage he won 17 consecutive points on his serve - and then waited for his opponent to stuff up which they always do.

As usual it had been a complicated fortnight for Djokovic.

First he had to deal with accusations of faking over a hamstring injury which had opponents questioning its validity given how easily he was still dispatching them.

Then his father getting pictured with Russian fans who were illegally flying the nation’s flag was a PR disaster which overshadowed his march to the final.

Novak Djokovic cements his place in history. Picture: David Gray/AFP

With Srdjan Djokovic watching the semi-final and final at home, as usual his son turned negatives into a stream of positives on Rod Laver Arena.

For Tsitsipas he knows he’s getting closer to climbing the tennis equivalent of Everest.

At the French Open two years ago in his maiden grand slam final Tsitsipas won the opening two sets before succumbing in an epic five-set showdown to Djokovic.

Despite this loss he still moves up to an equal career-high No.3 in the world and will leave Melbourne knowing he’s clearly the next man up.

The problem is that could still be a few years away given there’s no sign of the man at the top going away any time soon.