Djokovic Takes First Set Vs. Tsitsipas In Australian Open Final

Novak Djokovic is two sets away from a record-extending 10th Australian Open title after claiming the first set against Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3 in Sunday’s championship match in Melbourne.

Djokovic came into the match with a 9-0 record in Australian Open finals and has won his past nine tour-level meetings against the 24-year-old Tsitsipas. Should he go on to complete victory on Sunday and extend his ATP Head2Head record against the Greek to 11-2, the Serbian will draw level with Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 Grand Slam titles.

It is the second meeting between Djokovic and Tsitsipas in a major final. At Roland Garros in 2021, Djokovic rallied from two-sets-to-love down to down the Greek and claim victory on the Paris clay, but he gave Tsitsipas few opportunities to establish a similar early lead on Sunday in Melbourne.

Despite Tsitsipas scoring an early morale-booster by saving two break points from 15/40 to hold for 1-1, Djokovic’s typically consistent and accurate groundstrokes dominated the first set on Rod Laver Arena. He frequently piled pressure onto the Tsitsipas backhand and the Greek was unable to repeat the escape in the fourth game, when Djokovic clinched the only break of the set.

Whoever prevails in Sunday’s final will enjoy a double reward for their success in Melbourne. Both Djokovic and Tsitsipas know that victory at the first Grand Slam of the 2023 season guarantees them the No. 1 spot in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

More to follow…