Djokovic beats Thiem to win 8th Australian Open, 17th Grand Slam title

After almost four hours of a high-intensity clash, world number two Novak Djokovic defeated Austria’s Dominic Thiem to claim his eighth Australian Open men’s singles title at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday (February 2).

The Serb beat Thiem 6-4 4-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 continuing his winning streak at the Melbourne Park.

“I would like to start by saying congratulations to Dominic for an amazing tournament. It wasn’t to be tonight but it was a tough match and you were very close to winning it. You definitely have a lot more time in your career I’m sure that you will get one of the slam trophies… More! More than one,” Djokovic said after receiving the winner’s trophy.

A final for the ages ?#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/rICxOSKDxp

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 2, 2020

Djokovic has won all the eight Australian Open finals he has contested in, including his Sunday showdown against the 26-year-old.

Thiem, who beat world number one Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals, entered the concluding match with 6-4 career head-to-head, winning four of their last five clashes.

“I would like to start of course with a huge congrats to Novak. Amazing achievement and also to all your team. Unreal what you are doing throughout all this years. You and also two other guys, I think you brought men’s tennis to a complete new level and I’m really proud and happy that I can compete in these times and this period of tennis. I fell a little bit short today but I hope I can get soon a little revenge, so very well done,” Thiem said during the post-match presentation.

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However, the 32-year old has been firing ever since arriving in Australia a month ago and was unbeaten over six ATP Cup singles matches as he led Serbia to the inaugural title ahead of the Australian Open.

Thiem, who has beaten four seeds to make the grade, lauded Djokovic as the “king of Australia” and insisted his recent succusses against him counted for little at the Serb’s favourite tournament.

When 2005 #AusOpen champion Marat Safin meets 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2020 champion, @DjokerNole.#AO2020 pic.twitter.com/8CBNBFhfDw

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 2, 2020

The Melbourne Arena decider victory is also Djokovic’s 13 straight win which gives him a chance to become world number one and makes his Grand Slam title count move to 17.

The second seed has bagged the title of season’s first Grand Slam earlier in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2019.

Djokovic is also the first man in the Open Era to win Grand Slam singles titles in three different decades and the second in history after Ken Rosewall, who earned Major titles in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.