Novak Djokovic defended his Australian Open crown and won a 17th Grand Slam after defeating Dominic Thiem in a gripping five-set final. Djokovic edged Thiem to 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 Sunday night for an eighth Australian Open title. Only Roger Federer, with 20, and Nadal, with 19, have won more men’s Grand Slam singles trophies than Djokovic.
Addressing Thiem, Djokovic said: “I am sure you will definitely get one of the Grand Slam trophies. More than one.” Djokovic visited by a doctor and trainer in the third set and, desperate to hydrate, guzzled bottles of water and energy drink. Thiem, an Austrian who is 26, was the runner-up to Nadal at Roland Garros each of the past two years and was again trying to become the first man born in the 1990s to win a major singles title.
In his victory speech, Djokovic paid tribute to the recent demise of the basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, and also to the devastating bushfire havoc in Australia. “I would just like to say that this is a reminder to all of us that we should stick together more than ever, be with our families, stay close to the people that love you, that care about you,” Novak mentioned after his epic win over Thiem.