Australian Open: Novak Djokovic wins 8th title in Melbourne
Novak Djokovic has won the Australian Open for the eighth time. He won against Dominic Thiem in an exciting, if not permanently high-class final with 6: 4, 4: 6, 2: 6, 6: 3 and 6: 4 and celebrated his first 17th Grand Slam title overall. ( The entire match for reading in the ticker. )
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Feb 02, 2020, 01:49 pm
Djokovic started strongly and broke Thiem in the first service game. The Austrian arrived with less power compared to the Nadal and Zverev matches, which was mainly due to Djokovic, who distributed cleverly, happily caught Thiem on the wrong foot and, when in doubt, targeted the lines.
Thiem had to fight for the connection, but at 4-2 Djokovic eased for the first time. Two forehand errors opened the door for Thiem, who was now able to make his favorite strike, the forehand inside-out; Another Djokovic mistake then brought Thiem back into the sentence. Thiem fended off an opportunity for a direct rebreak for Djokovic with an energetic network action, strong premiums helped to make it 4: 4. However, Thiem did not keep the level: He still fended off a set ball at 4: 5, a double fault at the second gave Djokovic the set lead. Crucial: Thiem had to go through the second serve 13 times - and only made the point 3 times.
Thiem compensates, Djokovic punished with a time penalty
Djokovic also started with a zero game in round two, but in the serve game he brought Thiem with a double fault to break - 194 km / h on the second serve were clearly too much, Djokovic stated this with the bird itself : 2 Thiem blocked a chance to return for Djokovic again with a brutal forehand inside-out and put on 4: 2. A 15:30 at 4: 3 he solved with a forehand hammer and an overview stop, but two unnecessary backhand errors brought Djokovic the compensation.
However, what did not bring him to rest: A warning due to the timeout followed, another - Djokovic was thus deprived of the first serve - at 15:40. The forehand then flew far out. "Great job, man," the Djoker groaned towards referee Damien Dumusois. "You make yourself famous today." Thiem then served safely to compensate the sentence.
Thiem turns up, Djokovic from the role
Round three started Thiem with a break chance, he carelessly pulled a much too high volley Djokovics, but two mistakes of the 32-year-old Serb did help. Thiem then fended off a breakball with a backhand longline - which he had hit so often so far. Djokovic was now completely off the track, tried at 0:15 to serve and volley on the second serve, but it flew into the net. In return, Thiem made another backhand on the line for two chances to double break, Djokovic then shot a forehand into the net. In the 4: 1 for Thiem Djokovic briefly let the physiotherapist appear uncomfortable, but refrained from taking tablets. Thiem finally served, using his fourth set ball - even if Djokovic increased his intensity towards the end. However, he left the pitch break.
Thiem with a bitter mistake - sentence compensation!
Djokovic, however, stayed tuned and was now fully back; But Thiem stayed on the job. Perhaps the best ball change went to 2: 3 and debut, finished after a fine net game with a sure smash.
Then the decisive ball in set three at 3: 4. Thiem fired a short forehand into Djokovic's run, the simple volley after that got stuck in the net. Instead of 30: 0 it was 15:15 - and Djokovic took advantage of this. He then served through to zero set compensation.
Djokovic almost flawlessly to victory
Djokovic now made no mistakes, consequently he managed to break 2-1. Thiem got two chances to rebreak, but both times he missed one. A double break prevented Thiem with a good serve. At 3: 4 from his point of view Thiem then fought for the point in a 28-stroke rally to 0:15, at 30:30 Djokovic showed courage on the second serve.
Thiem then fulfilled his duty, but Djokovic ultimately served for his eighth triumph in Melbourne.
More information will follow!
The entire match for reading in the ticker
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