Djokovic Dominates Medvedev to Win Ninth Australian Open Only Two Grand Slams Away from Federer, Nadal Record

14 Established 1961 Sports Monday, February 22, 2021 Djokovic dominates Medvedev to win ninth Australian Open Only two Grand Slams away from Federer, Nadal record MELBOURNE: Peerless world number one Novak to bar fans for five days when state authorities Djokovic demolished Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in ordered a snap lockdown. straight sets to win his ninth Australian Open title and extend his record-breaking reign at ‘Not the day’ Melbourne Park yesterday. Djokovic overpowered Medvedev, 25, is one of the smartest players on the fourth seed 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in front of 7,400 fans tour, keeping his opponents guessing with his flat on Rod Laver Arena to end the Russian’s unbeaten and low groundstrokes, changing up the pace and run at 20 matches. angles, as he blends impenetrable defense with In winning a third straight Australian Open for opportunistic offence. But the Serb, who held a 4- the second time, the Serb claimed his 18th Grand 3 head-to-head record against him but had lost Slam title to move within two of Roger Federer and three of the previous four, had his measure. Rafael Nadal who have 20 each, while denying “It’s never easy to find words when you have Medvedev his first. Rarely has a player been so just lost the final of a Grand Slam,” said Medvedev. dominant at a single tournament with the Serb’s “But congrats Novak and his team. I mean, nine record-extending ninth title moving him past Grand Slams in Australia and 18 total is amazing Federer’s eight at Wimbledon but still a long way and probably not the last one.” behind the 13 Nadal has won at Roland Garros. “I really wanted to make this match long and But it was a rollercoaster ride to get there, with more entertaining, but today was not the day,” he Djokovic dropping five sets en route to the final added. In front of a pro-Djokovic crowd, and battling an abdominal injury that nearly forced Medvedev overcooked two forehands on his open- him to pull out after the third round. Despite ing service game then sent one into the net to hand admitting it was a gamble to keep playing, with a the Serb the first break points, then a wild back- risk the injury could get worse and affect the rest hand saw him immediately on the back foot. of his season, the 33-year-old chose to continue Djokovic consolidated with a serve to love and it paid off. “Thanks to this court, the Rod before the Russian finally got off the mark with a Laver Arena, I love you each year more and more wobbly hold for 1-3. But then a failed drop shot MELBOURNE: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup trophy after — the love affair keeps going,” said a relieved and net volley from the top seed allowed the beating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev to win their men’s singles final match on day fourteen of the Djokovic, while paying tribute to Medvedev. Russian to break back. Long rallies ensued and it Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne yesterday. —AFP “Daniil, a class act, great guy and great person,” went with serve until some brilliant groundstrokes he said. “I really like him off the court ... but on from Djokovic earned three break points at 6-5. court he’s definitely one of the toughest players I Medvedev saved two but not the third to lose the three games in a row, despite the disruption of two compared to the Russian’s second, drew on his have ever faced in my life. It’s a matter of time till opening set. fans being ejected in an apparent refugee protest, experience to close out the match, dropping to the you hold a Grand Slam.” Djokovic’s speech to the as he took control. He raced to a 5-2 lead with court in celebration. The win reinforced Djokovic’s crowd came after Tennis Australia chair Jayne Racquet smash Medvedev smashing his racquet in frustration as status as world number one, where he will mark his Hrdlicka was booed for mentioning the COVID Undeterred, the tall, pencil-thin Russian kept the set and the championship began slipping away. 311th week when the new rankings come out today, vaccine and the Victorian government. The unusual coming and dialed up the pressure to break Deflated, Medvedev dropped his opening serve surpassing Federer’s record of 310. Medvedev will scenes came at the end of a tournament that was Djokovic’s opening serve in set two, only for the in set three and never looked like finding a way move to a career-high three in the rankings, behind delayed three weeks over the coronavirus and had Serb to immediately strike back. Djokovic won back as Djokovic, in his 28th Grand Slam final Nadal. —AFP game’s leading light, Osaka replied: Osaka aims to “No, not at all,” adding that she sim- ply wanted to remain true to herself. I have learned on-and-off the court it’s inspire new okay to not be sure about yourself,” she said. “I’m more at peace with generation where I am, and I’m honestly just hap- py to be playing a Grand Slam in a MELBOURNE: Australian Open pandemic.” champion Naomi Osaka said she felt comfortable being a role model for the ‘Growing as a person’ next generation after her fourth Grand After winning her second Slam victory solidified her position at Australian Open title, Osaka spent a the forefront of a new era for tennis. lengthy time signing autographs for CHARLOTTE: Terry Rozier #3 of the Charlotte But the Japanese star, a four-time fans in a gesture that received wide- Hornets shoots the game winning shot against the major-winner at the age of just 23, spread applause on social media. Golden State Warriors on Saturday at Spectrum insisted America’s Serena Williams, 39 Having once grappled with fame as a Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. —AFP — who has 23 Slam crowns — shy youngster, a content Osaka said remains the face of the women’s game. she was still “growing as a person” Osaka beat America’s Jennifer but hoped to provide inspiration to Butler scores 24 as Brady 6-4, 6-3 in the Australian Open young players.” final on Saturday to win her fourth “In the past I felt it as a very Slam from the last eight in which she strong responsibility, and I was also MELBOURNE: Japan’s Naomi Osaka poses with the 2021 Australian Open Miami edge Lakers has played, and extend her year-plus very scared and nervous of it,” she winner’s trophy at the Government House in Melbourne yesterday, follow- winning streak to 21 matches. She said. “It’s a really big honor that there ing her victory over Jennifer Brady of the US in the women’s singles final in finals rematch joins Monica Seles and Roger Federer are little kids that like me, that come of the tennis tournament. —AFP in winning her first four major finals, to my matches and cheer for me. But LOS ANGELES: Jimmy Butler and Kendrick Nunn and will move up to second in the at the same time, I don’t weigh it too know what I was doing.” Japanese players in more tennis combined for 51 points as the Miami Heat defeated world rankings. heavily on myself.” Her win prompted celebrations in tournaments around the world.” reigning league champions the Los Angeles Lakers Her sweeping triumph was viewed A more mature Osaka, who says Japan, where she will play the Tokyo But Osaka said her biggest goal 96-94 on Saturday, in a rematch of last season’s as heralding a shift in women’s tennis she gained greater perspective dur- Olympics this year, while Japanese wasn’t Grand Slam titles, an Olympic NBA finals. Nunn finished with 27 points and with Australia’s Fed Cup captain Alicia ing tennis’s coronavirus shutdown, astronaut Soichi Noguchi tweeted medal or returning to world number Butler had 24 and eight rebounds for the Heat, who Molik declaring it a “changing of the said she now appreciated the diffi- his congratulations from the one. “I feel like the biggest thing that I have won six of their last nine contests. guard”, while the New Yorker said culty of winning a Grand Slam. “I International Space Station. “There want to achieve is... hopefully I play Bam Adebayo tallied 16 points and 10 rebounds Osaka was the “most thrilling athlete feel like I know how much hard work are many Japanese fans who are long enough to play a girl that said that and Duncan Robinson added 11 points with 10 of her generation”. Osaka brushed you have to put into this, because very excited now that Naomi has I was once her favorite player,” she rebounds. This was the first meeting between the aside Williams in the semis, after also the first time that I have won both won the Australian Open,” Japan’s said.” For me, I think that’s the coolest two teams since the Lakers defeated the Heat four beating her in the stormy 2018 US these trophies I think, in a way, I was 58th-ranked Yoshihito Nishioka told thing that could ever happen to me... games to two for their record-equaling 17th league Open final to win her first major. just a kid,” she said, referring to her AFP ahead of next week’s ATP Unfortunately I didn’t get to play Li crown in October in Orlando, Florida.

Load more