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Preview: Novak Djokovic heads into Sunday’s Australian Open final unbeaten on eight previous occasions in the title match, but knowing he will need to be at his mental and physical best to overcome red-hot Russian Daniil Medvedev. The Serbian world number one has had to battle injury and extract new levels of determination just to get to the final. An abdominal injury in the third round put him on the brink of an early exit and left him unable to train between matches. But after his semi-final win over another Russian, Aslan Karatsev, Djokovic reported he felt fitter than at any time during the Melbourne fortnight On Sunday night he will face an entirely different challenge against “chess player” Medvedev — the form man of tennis who is on a 20-match winning streak. Medvedev, the world number four, is unbeaten since last November, including a straight-sets drubbing of the Serb at the ATP Finals in London. “He’s just so solid. Also, I heard (commentator) Jim Courier calling him a master chess player because of the way he tactically positions himself on the court, and it’s true,” Djokovic said. “You know, he’s definitely a very smart tennis player.” Djokovic is into his ninth decider at Melbourne Park as he targets an 18th Slam title to close the gap on Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who have 20 each. But the 33-year-old said while experience was clearly an advantage, Medvedev would be a formidable adversary. The Serb holds the phenomenal record of never losing a final on Melbourne’s famous blue courts in eight attempts spanning 13 years. Djokovic will also be playing his 28th Grand Slam final. It will be the Russian’s second. “Of course it contributes to more confidence, prior to coming into the finals, knowing that I never lost in the finals or semi-finals just makes me feel more comfortable being on the court,” Djokovic said. “But each year is different, although it does have a mental effect on me. Maybe on my opponents, I don’t know, but on me it does definitely have a positive effect. “But it’s not a decisive factor in the way the match is going to go forward, because each year is different.” ‘He’s the favourite’ Medvedev, who has dropped just two sets so far, said that despite having all the momentum he will go into the final as the underdog. “He’s the favourite because he didn’t lose. On eight occasions that he was here in the semis he won the tournament,” said the 25-year-old. “Me, I’m… the challenger, the guy that challenges the guy who was eight times in the final and won eight times. And I’m happy about it. “I know that to beat him you need to just show your best tennis, be at your best physically maybe four or five hours, and be at your best mentally maybe for five hours,” he added. Medvedev, who also reached the 2019 US Open final, losing to Nadal, has the weapons to trouble Djokovic, with a big serve, unrelenting returns and exceptional movement as he targets a maiden Grand Slam title. Twelve of his 20 straight wins have been against top-10 players and he has won three of his last four against the 17-time Grand Slam-winning Serb. “Playing Novak seven times already is just a huge experience,” he said. “(But) I think when he’s in the zone he doesn’t miss. He goes down the line, cross, forehand, backhand, he doesn’t miss. That’s what is the toughest part of playing against him.” With inputs from AFP.
Australian Open 2021 Highlights: Novak Djokovic claims ninth title in Melbourne with straight sets win over Daniil Medvedev
Australian Open 2021 men’s final: Novak Djokovic heads into Sunday’s Australian Open final unbeaten on eight previous occasions in the title match, but knowing he will need to be at his mental and physical best to overcome red-hot Russian Daniil Medvedev
 "Australian Open 2021 Highlights: Novak Djokovic claims ninth title in Melbourne with straight sets win over Daniil Medvedev")
Most definitely. His speech after losing at US Open was pretty spectacular as well
At least medvedev won the best speech award
— Somdev Devvarman (@SomdevD) February 21, 2021
Novak Djokovic: “Good evening everyone! First of all, Daniil class act. We used to practice more in Monaco. You’re not calling me anymore. Thanks for the good things you’ve said about me. He’s a great person off court but on it, he’s one of the toughest I’ve played in my life. It is a matter of time you’ll hold a Slam. If you don’t mind waiting a few more years. 20-match winning streak, amazing!”
“I would like to thank my team. Everyone back home who has been with me all the way alongside on this ride. It has been a rollercoaster – especially in the last couple of weeks. Ulises (physio) I’m eternally grateful to you for the past couple of weeks. Love you guys!”
“Mixed feelings about what happened since we came to Australia. I want to congratulate the organisers, they’ve made a great effort. Challenging on many different levels. They should be proud of themselves. Thank you for making it possible, appreciate it.”
“Last but not least I want to thank Rod Laver Arena. I love you each year more and more. Thank you so much!”
Daniil Medvedev: “Never easy to speak when you’ve lost a Grand Slam final. Congrats to Novak, nine in Australia and 18 in total. Maybe not your last. I have no words to say. Just to tell you a story: I had a hit when I was 600 in the world, I thought he won’t speak to me. He was speaking to me, talking like a friend. It hasn’t changed whether I’m 600 in the world or 4th. You’re a great sport, great person.”
“Thanks to my coach. It wasn’t our day. Thank you for being with me in Australia. Hopefully we’ll have a Grand Slam soon”
“Thanks to Craig and the guys for making it happen. We haven’t been happy about quarantine but thanks for making it happen.”
“I really wanted to make this match longer, entertaining. Thanks for coming and supporting me.”
Strange scenes
At the presentation ceremony, the Tennis Australia representative gets booed for vaccinations and then the Victoria government. Odd. “I’ll start when you’re done” shuts ’em up.
If you’re keeping count, the tally now reads:
That three way battle for GOAT just got a little tighter!
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) February 21, 2021
20 - Roger Federer
20 - Rafael Nadal
18 - Novak Djokovic
14 - Pete Sampras
12 - Roy Emerson
For the 54th time in the last 63 Majors, a member of the Big Three will take the title.#AUSOpen LIVE: https://t.co/cAo6fNfkfW pic.twitter.com/jBzHtlI8nE
That’s his court now.
𝑀𝒶𝒿𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒾𝒸 𝒾𝓃 𝑀𝑒𝓁𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓃𝑒
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 21, 2021
The moment @DjokerNole claims his 9th #AusOpen title.#AO2021 pic.twitter.com/2sQVBGF0Wv
NINE AUSTRALIAN OPEN TITLES! NINE!
Novak Djokovic wins his NINTH Australian Open Title!
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) February 21, 2021
2008🏆
2011🏆
2012🏆
2013🏆
2015🏆
2016🏆
2019🏆
2020🏆
2021🏆
Sheer dominance!#AUSOpen LIVE: https://t.co/cAo6fNfkfW pic.twitter.com/kpbsqKmRMx
Australian Open champion: Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic beats Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 to win the Australian Open for a record extending ninth time. He’s taken his Grand Slam tally to 18 now and two behind Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal.
Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 Daniil Medvedev
Medvedev serving to stay in the match. Djokovic with a big return and the short ball is punched away for a winner. And Medvedev nets his backhand to make it 0-30. Daniil having to do so much to get one point as Novak nets his forehand after some well played defensive shots. The crowd speaking up in between points and Medvedev telling one person to “shut up!” as the rest of the arena erupts. Medvedev wins the point but not the next as his forehand goes wide. Match point Novak Djokovic. Championship point Novak Djokovic. And he wins it! Gets to a lob and finishes it off!
This is an exquisite volley!
SO good. 👏@DjokerNole four points away from adding another memorable Melbourne chapter.
— TENNIS (@Tennis) February 21, 2021
Daniil Medvedev serving to stay in the championship at 2-5 in the third.#AusOpen live blog: https://t.co/LvTWDLEwQX pic.twitter.com/cnza5t2pX5
Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-2, 5-2 Daniil Medvedev* (* denotes next server)
What a start to the game. Daniil Medvedev with a crunching returns on the Djokovic serve out wide and Novak, moving up to the net, with a brilliant volley which spins away from Medvedev’s reach. What a shot. Now Medvedev with some much needed winners. A backhand and then a forehand as the crowd goes wild. Daniil urges them on to take the decibel up. Now Novak with some incredible hitting on 30-30. Key point. Incredible depth from the Serb to find the baseline. The absolute last inch of the court and Medvedev nets his forehand – little he could do though. Clenched fist and his box is on their feet, as is the Rod Laver Arena. This has been some game. And Djokovic holds as Medvedev nets his backhand. Both players pushing the other to miss, to go for more and it is Daniil who blinks. Novak is one game away from a ninth Australian Open!
Novak Djokovic* 7-5, 6-2, 4-2 Daniil Medvedev (* denotes next server)
In case you’re a Medvedev supporter (or Federer, Nadal), DJokovic’s record from two sets up in five setters: 238-1. Only loss came against Jurgen Melzer at 2010 French Open. Medvedev staying close in the third set with a hold
Novak Djokovic* 7-5, 6-2, 3-1 Daniil Medvedev (* denotes next server)
WHAT INCREDIBLE SHOT MAKING! Seen great hitting from the back, big serves and now at the net as well. Djokovic picking up a drop shot and sending it as a drop at an angle. Medvedev picking it up too and adding some side spin to it which takes it away from Novak. He smiles and applauds the effort. Medvedev goes on to hold his serve and is on the board in the third set
Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-2, 3-0 Daniil Medvedev* (* denotes next server)
Medvedev was able to get back out of nowhere in the US Open final against Nadal but that doesn’t look to be the case today. Djokovic is barely missing but more importantly, Medvedev is not in the zone at all. Djokovic holds at 40-30 with a serve into the backhand that is returned into the net. Novak has won nine of the last 10 games…
Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-2, 2-0 Daniil Medvedev* (* denotes next server)
BREAK! A double fault brings the Medvedev serve to 15-30. Did he break the camera? Anyay. He follows it up with a great one-two to keep things even. Djokovic is seeing the ball as a football and getting everything back with sheer venom. A double fault on deuce doesn’t help Medvedev. Goes for a drop volley after a well played approach and it only finds the net.
Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-2, 1-0 Daniil Medvedev* (* denotes next server)
Two double faults in the game from Novak Djokovic out of nowhere and Daniil Medvedev has two break points. Novak saves one as Daniil’s forehand goes long. That second serve from Novak? Just 131kmph. Wow. Follows it up with a serve down the T that Medvedev is unable to get back. Side-to-side and Medvedev’s outstretched forehand is into the tramlines. He had been connecting and making everything coming into it. Just not found his range at all tonight. And a miss on the backhand hands the game to Novak. Mentally Medvedev is a goner it appears
The 20-match winning streak looks to be tarnished soon
You're only as good as your second serve they say.
— Somdev Devvarman (@SomdevD) February 21, 2021
Medvedev wins 2 points on 2nd serve in the 2nd set
Second set: Novak Djokovic 6-2
Novak Djokovic with a blistering second set despite being broken in the very first game. Since then he broke Daniil Medvedev thrice, including picking four games in a row, to go two sets up. He’s one set away from a ninth Australian Open title
Novak Djokovic* 7-5, 6-2 Daniil Medvedev (* denotes next server)
Medvedev smashing his racket at the change of ends. And the negative body language carries into the serve. Drops the first point but follows it up with a forehand winner with Djokovic at the net. A double fault, a forehand goes long and Djokovic has two set points. One saved with the return going long but not the second. Djokovic with a fierce, deep forehand return into Medvedev’s shoelaces and his reply is into the net.
Great job by Tennis Australia to hold this tournament and have fans (except five days)
Attendance on Day 14 of #AO2021 was 7,426, bringing this year's total tournament attendance to 130,374 fans.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 21, 2021
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this very special edition of the #AusOpen. pic.twitter.com/tZEwdDSUkU
Novak Djokovic 7-5, 5-2 Daniil Medvedev* (* denotes next server)
Djokovic can hit crunching forehands, serve big, go deep with the backhand and on 0-15 he does the volleys very well too. Stands up tall to Medvedev returns, gets one back and then the second to guess where the Russian will go. And in trying to keep the ball and making Novak miss, Medvedev nets his shot. Djokovic with two misses and the game comes to deuce. Djokovic with a strong serve and the return is into the net. Another serve down the T and Medvedev’s forehand return goes long
Novak Djokovic* 7-5, 4-2 Daniil Medvedev (* denotes next server)
Medvedev ends Djokovic’s run of games with a love hold. Slight glance at his box for some much needed confidence to try and comeback from here
Novak Djokovic 7-5, 4-1 Daniil Medvedev* (* denotes next server)
Racket goes down from Daniil Medvedev’s hands. Not a full smash to the ground, more a frustrated throw and grab after a forehand goes wide. Djokovic follows it up with an ace down the T that Daniil is unable to get his racket to. Hold and four games in a row for Novak
Novak Djokovic* 7-5, 3-1 Daniil Medvedev (* denotes next server)
SCENES! Novak Djokovic forced to stop mid-way into the point after a “fan” shouted something. Commentators inform it was a form of protest and the “fan” has been removed. At 15-30, Djokovic had returned a huge serve out wide to keep himself in it. On the do-over, Medvedev with a bigger serve and an ace. Medvedev miss brings up a break point. Djokovic asks the chair umpire to urge the crowd to stay quiet during the point. And on break point, Medvedev with a shank-y backhand wide. Went for too much and the ball went comfortably wide. Three games in a row for Novak now. BREAK!
Novak Djokovic 7-5, 2-1 Daniil Medvedev* (* denotes next server)
Medvedev with a little shake of the head as he misses a forehand to see the game to 30-30. He jumped into that forehand, something picked up by the commentators as well. Urging him to keep himself on the ground and run his weight thorugh the shot. On the next he tries to do but the backhand sails long. And now the forehand. A very, very cagey start to the second set and huge games for Novak
Novak Djokovic 7-5, 1-1 Daniil Medvedev* (* denotes next server)
BREAK! Djokovic applying the pressure now. Incredible depth on his return at 30-30 and Medvedev can only get it into the net. On break point, Djokovic moves Medvedev to his right and the outstretched forehand goes long. That was a masterclass of a game in how to return serve. Djokovic is brilliant at it, we all know that, and that was another example
Novak Djokovic 7-5, 0-1 Daniil Medvedev* (* denotes next server)
BREAK! Medvedev with the early advantage in the second set. Djokovic with some errors to start with – a backhang going long gives Medvedev a break point. And another backhand error, this one into the net, gives Medvedev the break.
How bloody good is Novak?
Apart from the game that Novak got broken, he lost just 3 points on serve the rest of the set! 🙄🤯🙄
— Somdev Devvarman (@SomdevD) February 21, 2021
First set to Novak and the scales have tipped in his favor.
First set stats
First set: Novak Djokovic 7-5
Djokovic takes the opening set 7-5 in 42 minutes. He had a break advantage earlier in the set but Medvedev got back to even things. But Novak with a near-perfect game to break once again and take the set
Novak Djokovic* 7-5 Daniil Medvedev (* denotes next server)
Djokovic with sheer brilliance in that game and at the best time. Two deep returns take him to 0-30 and then a running backhand down the line winner brings up three break points. But Medvedev is not going away without a fight. A 214kmph serve down the T – fastest so far – saves the second set. But on the third, Medvedev nets his forehand and Djokovic takes the first set!
Novak Djokovic 6-5 Daniil Medvedev* (* denotes next server)
A love hold for Novak Djokovic now. After that 1:01 hold for Medvedev, two minutes for Djokovic. As one does.
Novak Djokovic 5-5 Daniil Medvedev* (* denotes next server)
A love hold for Daniil Medvedev. A strong serve down the T and then a deep forehand winner to close the game out. Easy as it comes
Novak Djokovic 5-4 Daniil Medvedev* (* denotes next server)
Djokovic holds after Medvedev nets his backhand. Both these men are playing some incredible tennis and moving the other around the court. Arguably no one on Tour is hitting the ball cleaner and have the capabilities to do it it all than these two
Novak Djokovic* 4-4 Daniil Medvedev (* denotes next server)
We’ve had a bit of a technical hiccup at the start. To bring you, dear reader, up to speed: Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic are on serve after exchanging breaks. Djokovic was flying at 3-0 before Medvedev turned things around with some gorgeous hitting. Both players hitting the ball cleanly and the quick court is helping the ball zip across.
Players on court
After the musical performance, the players are now on court. It is 18 degrees celsius. Hugo, the little kid, spins the coin and Djokovic calls. And he calls right. Novak will serve first in this final
The last two weeks in numbers for Djokovic and Medvedev
This is going to be fun 😃
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 21, 2021
Before the first serve, check out some of the numbers for @DjokerNole and @DaniilMedwed at #AO2021 📊🏆@Infosys| #AusOpenWithInfosys | #NextNeverStops | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/WgpIZ4Cvqo
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