Novak Djokovic claimed a record-tying 22nd Grand Slam title on Sunday when he won the Australian Open, extending his lead in the ‘Big Titles’ Race’ over Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

The Serbian defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6(4), 7-6(5) in the championship match at Melbourne Park to claim his 66th ‘Big Title’, which encompasses trophies at Grand Slam championships, the Nitto ATP Finals, ATP Masters 1000 tournaments and Olympic singles gold medals.

Djokovic is seven ‘Big Titles’ clear of his biggest rivals. Nadal owns 59 of them and Federer, who retired at last year’s Laver Cup, completed his career with 54.

Djokovic has won one ‘Big Title’ for every 3.2 events played (66/210), while Nadal has earned one for every 3.5 tournaments he has played (59/208). The only other players who have won a ‘Big Title’ at a greater rate than once per five events played are Federer (4.4, 54/240) and Pete Sampras (4.9, 30/147).

It was a historic fortnight Down Under for Djokovic, who claimed a record-extending 10th Australian Open crown. The 35-year-old has lifted more trophies at the season’s first major than at any other Grand Slam, with Wimbledon (7) next on the list.

Djokovic became the third-oldest man in the Open Era to triumph at the Australian Open, trailing only Ken Rosewall and Federer, who both accomplished the feat aged 36. With his victory against Tsitsipas in the championship clash, the Serbian has also won 17 consecutive matches against Top 5 opponents at the tournament.

The triumph will return Djokovic to World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on Monday, when he will begin his record 374th week in top spot. 

Current and Former Champions’ Big Titles Won (Records Since 1990)

^ Includes Olympic Games gold medals and tournament participations
* Becker’s four other Grand Slam titles came before 1990.
** Edberg’s three other Grand Slam titles came before 1990.
*** Chang’s one Grand Slam title came before 1990

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…

Australian wild cards Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler ended their fairytale run at the Australian Open in style Saturday when they defeated Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski 6-4, 7-6(4) to capture their first Grand Slam title.

Competing in front of vocal home support, Hijikata and Kubler hammered returns and were strong on serve, winning 88 per cent (38/43) of points behind their first deliveries to become the fifth unseeded team to win the Australian Open trophy.

“I have got to thank Rinky,” Kubler said during the trophy ceremony. “He was the reason we teamed for this tournament. I wasn’t sure and then Rinky asked me and I said yeah and decided to play. Two weeks later and we have this trophy, so a big thank you to Rinky.”

“I could never have imagined this,” Hijikata said. “I am glad you said yes Kubs to playing with me a few months ago. It is just unreal. Thank you so much mate, it has been unreal.”

With their 85-minute victory, the Australians followed in the footsteps of Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios, who won the 2022 Aussie Open title as wild cards. Hijikata and Kubler are the third Australian team to win a men’s doubles trophy since last January, with Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell triumphing at Wimbledon.

Teaming for the first time this fortnight, the wild cards upset sixth seeds Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara, top seeds Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski and eighth seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos.

In a tight final, Hijikata and Kubler earned the decisive break of the first set in the third game to gain control. They did not face a break point in the opener to move ahead before they held their nerve in the second-set tie-break, winning a thrilling all-court championship point to seal their win.

“Thank you to all the fans, wow,” Kubler said. “I have never had a summer like this and with you guys, you have made it so special. I have played on a lot of big courts and you being out here with me makes me feel so comfortable. It feels like 1000 against two when I am out here.”

Nys and Zielinski were also competing in their first major final after advancing in deciding sets in four of their five matches.

Big changes are coming Monday when the new edition of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings is released following the Australian Open, starting at the very top.

The winner of Sunday’s men’s singles final between Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas will rise to World No. 1, ending Carlos Alcaraz’s 20-week rain as the ATP Tour’s leading man. The Spaniard will slip to No. 2 regardless of the result in Melbourne, with the runner-up at No. 3.

Tsitsipas could become the first Greek and the 29th man overall to top the Pepperstone ATP Rankings since they debuted in 1973; he is assured of matching his career high of No. 3 behind his run to his second major final. Djokovic is bidding to add to his record 373 weeks as World No. 1 by returning to the top spot for the first time since last June.

The Serbian would make the biggest jump to No. 1 in the history of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings — rising four spots from No. 5 — if he wins is 10th Australian Open title. Tsitsipas would match the biggest move to No. 1 — three places — if he claims his first Grand Slam crown.

The chart below lists the four men who are currently tied for the biggest jump to World No. 1, with each rising from No. 4 on the date below. Both Alcaraz and Carlos Moya debuted atop the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on the same occasion.

Other notable upward movers in Monday’s edition of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings will include Melbourne semi-finalists Karen Khachanov (up seven places to No. 13) and Tommy Paul (up 16 places to No. 19). 

Both 2022 Australian Open finalists are set to fall after early exits at the year’s first Grand Slam. Rafael Nadal, last year’s champion, will drop four spots to No. 6, while 2022 finalist Daniil Medvedev moves outside the Top 10, dropping four places to No. 12. Matteo Berrettini, a semi-finalist one year ago Down Under, will fall eight places to No. 22.