DJOKOVIC WRITES MORE HISTORY AT AUSTRALIAN OPEN

HEAD’s premier tennis ambassador Novak Djokovic has written another remarkable chapter in tennis history, winning a 10th Australian Open singles title to take his career tally of majors to 22.

Djokovic beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in three sets in Sunday’s final in Melbourne to extend his remarkable record at the Australian Open. His last defeat at Melbourne Park was against Hyeon Chung in the fourth round in 2018 – since then he has won the titles in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023.

Djokovic played remarkably well at the Grand Slam he considers his ‘home major’. And he admitted to having added determination this year after missing the chance to compete in 2022 after his Australian visa was revoked. “There is something extra this year,” he said, “because of various reasons, including what happened last year, I really wanted to do well.”

For years Djokovic trailed Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the number of Grand Slam singles titles won, but he has now equaled Nadal’s record of 22 – and is two ahead of Federer’s 20 – and many tennis observers believe he will pull ahead of Nadal if he stays healthy throughout 2023. His Australian victories this month in Adelaide and Melbourne gives him 93 tour-level titles, putting him within striking distance of Jimmy Connors’ record of 109.

Tennis in its modern form dates from 1874, so it will celebrate its 150th anniversary next year. Until July 2000 no male player had won more than 12 major titles, but four players have now surpassed that total, with Djokovic and Nadal leading on 22 titles each.

Djokovic, 35, played with HEAD racquets as a junior, and now endorses HEAD’s Speed range of racquets.