Novak Djokovic triumphs over Dominic Thiem in a nail-biting final to clinch his eighth Australian Open title
Djokovic, who's chased after Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for much of his career, defeated the Grand Slam champion Dominic Theierry with scores of 6:4, 4:6, 2:6, 6:3, and 6-4. The win made Djokovic the first male player in over three decades to win a Grand Slam title during the Open Era, adding to his impressive resume of 24 Grand Slam singles titles[1].
Losing only one final in Melbourne throughout his career, Djokovic now ranks 17th among Major winners, closing the gap with Federer and Nadal.
"Naturally, Grand Slams are the most important for me in this phase of my career," Djokovic stated. "They hold priority. Before the season begins, I will work hard to get into shape and prepare for these events, so I can give my best both mentally and physically."
While the 2020 pair might have the chance to match Djokovic's feat accomplished over three decades, the Serbian undoubtedly stands out as unique at the first Grand Slam of the year.
Referees' Confrontation
Besides the impressive statistics, the finale will be remembered for Djokovic's confrontation with umpire Damian Dumussois during his serve at 4:4 in the second set.
After receiving a warning from Dumussois for exceeding time limits before his serve, Djokovic, like Nadal during the 2019 US Open final with a different umpire, took longer than usual, prompting Dumussois to issue him a second warning, leading to a lost point on his first serve.
Djokovic tapped Dumussois' shoes as he walked to his chair, eventually congratulating his umpire after being seated, praising "Good job, man, great work." Dumussois remained lenient, avoiding escalating the situation.
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Thiem's Struggles
Thiem, sitting at number 5, won the fourth set with a score of 3:4, giving Djokovic a considerable advantage and a notable statistical edge. In the final set, Djokovic had a lead of 30-10, while Thiem managed a modest 8-6.
This trend persisted and Thiem made a critical error in the 1:2 game, ultimately losing by a 2-set margin: 0:3.
The match wasn't over yet, though, as Thiem immediately secured two break points in the following game.
Though he made a strong serve, a return error and a missed backhand down the line resulted in a deficit. Determined, Thiem launched a powerful serve for a breakpoint, leaving Djokovic to save his game with a 15-30 score.
In the final game, Djokovic chased the ball to catch up to 15 points and eventually secured victory.
Delivering an emotional speech, Djokovic received the trophy, urging the crowd to stay united during challenging times while paying tribute to his late mentor, Kobe Bryant.
"The year 2020 began with some devastating events, such as severe bushfires in Australia, conflicts in various parts of the world, and daily losses of lives," Djokovic said.
"The person who was closest to me in my life, Kobe Bryant, also passed away along with his daughter. This served as a reminder of the importance of being close to the people we love and cherish."
While Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer have dominated the last 12 Major titles, Thiem's challenges were undoubtedly formidable.
"These guys have elevated tennis to an entirely new level," Thiem said. "They may have made me better too. Getting a chance to compete on their level is important indeed. I truly hope I can win my first Grand Slam while they are around, knowing it would mean even more."
Though his entrance to the final was influential, Thiem ultimately could not overcome Djokovic's consistency and power.
