TheCable

Novak Djokovic, Serbian professional tennis player, has beaten Austria’s Dominic Thiem to claim his 17th Grand Slam singles title at the 2020 Australian Open.

Djokovic’s triumph against the Austrian makes it a record-extending eighth Australian Open title for the Serbian, who had before now won in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2019.

The 32-year-old Belgrade native becomes the first man in the Open era to win Grand Slam championships in three different decades.

Djokovic, who remain unbeaten in Australian Open finals, will return to the number one spot after claiming his 78th title at the Rod Laver arena on Sunday in a five set thriller 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The king has returned 👑

After almost four hours, @DjokerNole def. Dominic Thiem 6-4 4-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 to claim his eighth Australian Open crown.#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/EJOKBy040s

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 2, 2020

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“Congratulations to Dominic for an amazing tournament,” said Djokovic.

“It wasn’t to be tonight. Tough luck. You were very close to win it, you have a lot of time in your career to get one of the Grand Slam trophies. More than one.”

He also paid tributes to Kobe Bryant, basketball icon, who recently died after his helicopter crashed.

“There were some devastating things that started 2020 with huge bushfires in Australia and conflicts around the world. Obviously one person that I considered close in my life and was a mentor to me, Kobe Bryant, passed away with his daughter,” he said.

Djokovic is now just three grand slam titles shy of Roger Federer’s men’s all-time record and two behind Rafael Nadal’s tally.

No other player has won more Australian Open titles in history; Federer and Roy Emerson are behind him with six each

He also earned approximately $2.83 million prize money, a 0.49% increase from 2019.