Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Monday 3 February 2020
Djokovic comes back for 8th Australian Open title, 17th Slam

experienced foe faltered,
Djokovic broke to lead 5-3
in the fourth set, helped by
a sloppy volley into the net
tape, a double-fault and a
bad forehand by Thiem.
A break early in the fifth
helped Djokovic clutch the
silver Australian Open tro-
phy he also won in 2008,
2011-13, 2015-16 and 2019.
He adds that haul to his
five titles from Wimbledon,
three from the U.S. Open
and one from the French
Open.
Thiem, an Austrian who is
26, was the runner-up to
Nadal at Roland Garros
each of the past two years
and was again trying to
become the first man born
in the 1990s to win a major
singles title.
Instead, the Big Three have
won 13 consecutive Slams
and 56 of the last 67.
"It's unique in sports history
that the three best players
— by far — are playing in
the same era," Thiem said.
"That's what makes it very,
very difficult for other play-
Serbia's Novak Djokovic carries the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup onto Margaret Court Arena to celebrate with fans after
defeating Austria's Dominic Thiem in the men's singles final of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, ers to break through."
early Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. The status quo appeared in
Associated Press peril in the third set, when
Djokovic merely watched
By HOWARD FENDRICH us tonight." Addressing Thiem, Djokovic offered by tournament di- and shook his head as a
AP Tennis Writer Nonetheless, Djokovic im- said: "I am sure you will defi- rector Craig Tiley. lob by Thiem curled over
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) proved his record in semi- nitely get one of the Grand This was not the domi- him and in. Djokovic didn't
— Novak Djokovic was finals and finals at Mel- Slam trophies. More than nant Djokovic who made chase it. Wasn't entirely
looking weary and worn bourne Park to 16-0 and one." a hard-to-believe total of clear right then what the
down. He felt dizzy and assured himself of returning A little more than six nine unforced errors during problem was, but perhaps
trailed Dominic Thiem in to No. 1 in the rankings, re- months after saving a pair his straight-set triumph over he knew he needed to
the Australian Open final placing Rafael Nadal. of championship points Nadal in the final a year save some strength.
-- miscues mounting, deficit No other man in the history against Federer en route to ago. Djokovic eclipsed that Heat, so often a factor in
growing. of tennis has won this hard- winning a five-set Wimble- total in the first set alone Melbourne, was not an is-
Djokovic did what he does, court tournament more don final, Djokovic again Sunday, finishing with 57. sue. The crisp, cool condi-
though. He refused to lose, than six times. Only Roger showed that he can't ever It was a physical test offer- tions were pretty much ide-
waited for a chance to Federer, with 20, and Nad- be counted out, coming ing plenty of entertaining al at the start, with a light
pounce and found his best al, with 19, have won more back from two-sets-to-one exchanges, with 61 points breeze and the tempera-
tennis when absolutely men's Grand Slam singles behind in a Grand Slam lasting at least nine shots ture around 70 degrees (20
necessary. Even threw in trophies than Djokovic. title match for the first time. apiece. Celsius). That dropped as
a wrinkle, serve-and-vol- "Amazing achievement. It didn't come easily for "Very demanding," Thiem the natural light faded, first
leying twice when facing Unreal what you're doing the 32-year-old from Ser- said. leaving a violet ceiling of
break point. throughout all these years," bia. He lost six games in a "Of course," he said, "I just sky before nightfall arrived,
Regaining his stamina and said the fifth-seeded Thiem, row in one stretch to Thiem, feel a lot of emptiness right accompanied by alarm-
strokes, and showing some who is 0-3 in major finals. who plays a similar baseline now." ingly loud squawks from a
gutsy creativity, Djokovic "You and also two other game and eliminated Nad- At two key moments, flock of seagulls perched
came back to edge Thiem guys, I think you brought al in the quarterfinals. Djokovic abandoned his on steel railings atop the
6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 Sunday men's tennis to a complete Djokovic visited by a doc- usual grind-points-out script arena.
night for an eighth Austra- new level." tor and trainer in the third and went on the attack, Not surprisingly, given his
lian Open title, second in a Both finalists spoke about set and, desperate to hy- rushing to the net after a experience and expertise,
row, and 17th Grand Slam the devastating wildfires drate, guzzled bottles of serve when facing a break Djokovic came out loose,
trophy overall. that have killed dozens water and energy drink. He point — first, at 2-1 in the limber and locked in. Of
"I was on the brink of los- of people and millions of lectured the chair umpire fourth set, then again at 2-1 the initial half-dozen points
ing the match. Dominic ... animals around Australia. about time violations. in the fifth. lasting at least nine strokes,
disrupted my rhythm in my Djokovic also mentioned "My energy dropped sig- Paid off both times. he won all six. Within 13 min-
game at one point. He was the recent deaths of NBA nificantly," Djokovic said at "Not characteristic of me," utes, he was ahead 3-0, as
a better player," Djokovic star Kobe Bryant and one his news conference, sip- Djokovic said. "Kind of all- a chorus of his nickname --
said. "Probably one point — of his daughters in a heli- ping an anti-oxidant drink or-nothing." "No-le! No-le! No-le!" -- rang
and one shot — separated copter crash. instead of the Champagne Making a charge as his less- out.q