Novak Djokovic in five sets defeated Dominic Thiem, playing with the account 1:2 on the parties, and won his 17th tournament of “Grand slam”, the eighth of them in Melbourne. But at the same time – once again became the first racket of the world.
CUP FROM SAFINA
Pleasant moments of history – exactly 15 years ago Marat Safin lifted a long-deserved Cup of the Australian Open. On the third attempt, the Russians still won the final in Melbourne, after two successive failures in 2002 and 2004… We remember how it ended for the tournament. Not so much the decisive match against the idol of the local audience of Lleyton Hewitt (1:6, 6:3, 6:4, 6:4, 6:4). How epic semifinal against Federer where everything was decided in the fifth set in favor of Marat – 9:7 (one of the best tennis matches in history!). But few know how to begin to Safin Australian Open 2005. And it began with a meeting with little-known Serbian boy, 17-year-old native of Belgrade, a newcomer to the “Big hats” and 188-th racket of the planet – Novak Djokovic. Puny, skinny kid, who got into based on wild card and hooked Marat three games (6:0, 6:2, 6:1).
In 2020, the same charismatic, tall, handsome and Safin, but for a long time who finished his career (a little over 10 years ago), he will be awarded the champion Cup of Australia. And hand it to Novak. For which this trophy will be the eighth on the courts “Melbourne Park”. 17-m – on “the Big helmets”. Yes, for 15 years this skinny kid has done a tremendous way from an unknown rookie to legend of world tennis and the most successful player in the history of the Australian Open. And if Marat after the tournament had not won a single title, and in 2009, at the age of 29, left a great sport, Djokovic has since collected 78 trophies earned 144 million dollars in prize money (absolute record!), five seasons finished in the status of the leader of the ranking and now – at 32 back to the top again. On Monday, he will overtake Rafael Nadal and become the first racket of the world.
It is really fantastic!
THE THIRD FINAL OF THE TIM
Despite the fact that the final there was for him very difficult. And at some point I thought Nola faltered. Broke. That’s gonna give the match Dominica Tim. Which is also the title deserved.
Perhaps it would be fair to all the players of the new wave, all the guys of the 90-ies of birth, Austrian would be the first to get your “Helmet”. He has twice been in the finals but “Roland Garron” in 2018-2019 (and guess who they lost to). He had a powerful work in the offseason to improve on hard. He knocked in Melbourne Nadal (in the quarterfinals) and scored a spectacular move Alexander Zverev (in the semifinals). There are a lot of young players who are tipped main titles – the same Zverev, Daniel Medvedev, Stephanos Zizipus. And almost all of them have already achieved a lot – won the “Masters” and the Final, beat rivals from the big 3, reached the finals of the “Helmet” (as Medvedev at the US Open). But Tim opened a little earlier (he is, however, a little bit older – 3-4 years, he’s already 26 years). And lasts a long time in the elite. Holding closest of all to the great trio of Federer-Djokovic-Nadal. And if this trio will have to leave, perhaps he deserved to be the first to move any of them from the throne.
Therefore, the Dominator (favorite nickname Tim) is so powerfully concentrated, famously played the finals! After the equal fight in the first game (4:6), sharply increased in the second and won two sets in a row, and one of them, as it were, a “margin” (6:4, 6:2). And Djokovic is in these moments was unlike himself. Not that bad acted on the court normally acted, at the highest level! And how angry, cursing and mad at the judge for a notice about the delay time (“well, man, now you’re famous!” – sarcastic-angrily said Novak, the referee, patting his sneakers on the way to the bench).
Add to that medical of taum-out taken by Serb, and you will understand why many fans had the feeling that Djokovic’s to lose.
But it wouldn’t be great and wouldn’t be a legend if I gave up easily. At the crucial moment Novak added. And no matter how rested Tim, like it or fought to the last draw, maintaining a fantastic level, the Austrian could do nothing. Last, the third set, he never took. The fifth batch was left for Novak. And that Djokovic has received the champion Cup from the hands of the Marat.
And it is also, of course, is true.
