Australian Open: Novak Djokovic - respect for Tsitsipas and a memory gap
Novak Djokovic goes into the final of the Australian Open with a lot of respect for his challenger Stefanos Tsitsipas.
by SID
last edit: Jan 28, 2023, 10:55 am
"He's in great shape," said Djokovic, looking ahead to the duel on Sunday (9:30 a.m., live in Austria on ServusTV, on Eurosport and in our live ticker), in which he wants to win his 22nd Grand Slam title: "I know what's coming and I'm looking forward to it."
Already at the French Open 2021, the now 35-year-old Serb and the almost eleven-year-old Greek faced each other in the final - Djokovic won despite a two-set deficit after a great energy performance. It was a real tennis thriller, which was initially no longer present in Melbourne. "He has never played a final, or am I wrong?" Djokovic asked after reaching the quarter-finals with a look at Tsitsipas and then smiled about his memory gap.
Tsitsipas can't remember either
Before the final, Tsitsipas was asked if he thought this was a mind game by the nine-time tournament winner. "I don't remember either," replied the Athens athlete dryly, eager for his first major title. "I couldn't be more ready," said world number four Tsitsipas, who, like Djokovic, would make the leap to the top with a win. He's "very hungry".
So far, however, Djokovic has had an absolutely flawless record at the finals in Melbourne, which is a "big booster" for him. In his advanced career phase, every single Grand Slam is "a golden opportunity to win another trophy". He doesn't know how many more times he can do this.
Here is the individual tableau in Melbourne
laver arena