Djokovic will seek his tenth title in Australia against Tsitsipas

MADRID, 27 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Serbian Novak Djokovic and the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas will meet this Sunday in the final of the Australian Open, the first 'Grand Slam' of the season, after beating the American Tommy Paul (7-5, 6-1, 6-2) and Russian Karen Khachanov (7-6(2), 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3), respectively.

The Balkan, champion in Melbourne nine times (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2021), will seek this Sunday to beat the Hellenic tennis player again in the final of a 'big', as happened in that of Roland Garros 2021 -in which he overturned a 2-0 deficit in sets-, and take the scepter that Rafa Nadal achieved last year, with which he would also manage to tie the 'Grand Slam' titles (22).

In addition, 'Nole' is also obliged to win the trophy if he wants to return to number one in the world -now in the possession of the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz-, a goal that his rival also covets, in search of achieving his first 'big'. It will be the second consecutive 'Grand Slam' with a final in which the winner takes everything: the title and number one, as happened with Alcaraz and the Norwegian Casper Ruud at the US Open.

In the last match of the day at Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic managed to take a 5-1 lead, but Paul was able to rally from two gaps to make it 5-5. However, the Balkan avoided the tiebreaker with a break in the twelfth game.

Once that critical moment was over, the match was settled for the 21-time winner of a 'big', who relied on a 5-0 start to win the second round and, with two new 'breaks' in the third (4 -0), went to victory to seal the pass to his 33rd final of a 'Grand Slam'.

Now, Stefanos Tsitsipas will be measured, number four in the ATP ranking and who achieved his first final in the 'big' oceanic, the second in a 'Grand Slam' after the one he lived against Djokovic himself - who has won 10 of the 12 clashes between the two- at Roland Garros 2021, after beating Russian Karen Khachanov, 20th world racket.

In this way, the Greek tennis player is only one victory away from world number one, who would snatch the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, leader of the classification since he lifted the US Open trophy. "I'll be in a 'Grand Slam' final and fighting for number one, which is a childhood dream. I'm close, and I'm happy that this opportunity comes here in Australia," he said after the match.

However, Khachanov put up resistance at the Rod Laver Arena, where he came back from 1-3 and also from 3-5 in the first round to force a 'tie-break' in which, despite surviving two set balls , ended up succumbing.

Tsitsipas seemed to put his place in the final on track by winning the second set with a solitary 'break' in the ninth game, but the Russian sold his skin dearly by closing the gap after taking the third set in sudden death after a break for each of the contenders. In the final round, the nine-time ATP Tour champion started with a 3-0 lead that was insurmountable for his rival, who succumbed after three hours and 21 minutes of play.

For their part, the Brazilians Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos became this Friday the first 100% South American couple to win the mixed doubles title at the Australian Open by beating the Indians Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna (7-6) in the final. (2), 6-2). It is also the first title they have won as a couple.

A couple of breaks from each team forced the dispute of the 'tie-break', which gave victory in the opening set to the Brazilian duo, who already closed in the second set, with two new breaks and keeping their serve intact, the duel in an hour and 27 minutes of play.

Thus, both are the first South American couple to win the mixed doubles title of a 'great' since the Argentines Patricia Tarabini and Javier Frana at Roland Garros 1995. The match also meant the withdrawal of the Indian Sania Mirza, 36 years old and former number one in the world in doubles, from 'Grand Slam' tournaments.