TEARS OF A CROWN

Djokovic overcome by ’biggest victory’

- Neil McLeman

NOVAK DJOKOVIC shed tears of joy and relief before hailing his 10th Australian Open title as the “biggest victory in my life”. 

A year after his deportation from Down Under following his decision not to take a Covid jab, the Serbian superstar overcame injury and the furore over his father to equal Rafa Nadal’s record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles in the male GOAT race. He is also back at world No.1 today for a 374th week.

After taking his second match point when Stefanos Tsitsipas pushed a forehand over the baseline, Djokovic touched his head, his heart and his genitals in defiant celebration.

But this ruthless serial winner then showed the strain of the last few weeks by climbing into the stands to embrace his mother, Dijana, and brother Marko before collapsing to the ground in tears.

The Wimbledon champion, who is now a perfect 10 out of 10 in finals here, then continued to cry into his towel in his chair.

Wearing a Lacoste top with the No.22, Djokovic said: “I teared out because I felt the huge burden just off my back. It was a huge relief.