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Djokovic hot favourite for Australian Open 'revenge' mission

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Novak Djokovic has won the Australian Open a record nine times but a 10th title in Melbourne this month will be the most satisfying of all after his humiliating ban a year ago.READ | Djokovic, Kyrgios to play Australian Open practice matchTwelve months ago the Serbian superstar, one of the finest men's tennis players of all time, was at the centre of a global firestorm as he fought deportation from Australia.The 35-year-old's refusal to get vaccinated against Covid sparked a high-profile legal battle which eventually saw him turfed out of the country on the eve of the Grand Slam.In his absence his great rival Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open for a record 21st major crown.Some people, including former world number one Jim Courier, felt Djokovic was the victim of politics in what was an election year in Australia.Djokovic, who was held for a while in an immigration detention centre as the saga played out, now goes into next week's showpiece as the red-hot favourite to win it.If he does, it will be his 22nd Grand Slam title, tying him with Nadal at the top of the all-time men's list.Many in Australia were glad to see the back of Djokovic in January 2022, but there are indications that public sentiment has softened since.He enjoyed strong support from the crowd as he blew away the rest of the field last week to win in Adelaide for the 92nd ATP title of his career - level with the Spaniard Nadal."The support I have been getting in the last 10 days was something that I don't think I've experienced too many times in my life," Djokovic said after saving a match point in the final against Sebastian Korda on Sunday.Last month, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that a survey showed 30 percent of Australians now supported him

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Novak Djokovic stamped his invincibility in Melbourne as he defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6/3, 7/6(4), 7/6(4) in three hours and 10 minutes of action at the Rod Laver Arena. It was his 10th straight victory in a final match of the Australian Open and it tied Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 grand slam titles.
MELBOURNE: An emotional Novak Djokovic called it “the biggest victory in my life” after sweeping past Stefanos Tsitsipas to win a 10th Australian Open title and equal Rafael Nadal’s 22 Grand Slam crowns on Sunday. The Serb will return to world number one as he overcame a hamstring injury and off-court drama to defeat the Greek third seed 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5) on Rod Laver Arena.
An emotional Novak Djokovic beat Stefanos Tsitsipas Sunday to claim a 10th Australian Open title and equal Rafael Nadal's 22 Grand Slam crowns, a victory that returned him to world number one.
Novak Djokovic beat Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday to claim a 10th Australian Open title and equal Rafael Nadal's 22 Grand Slam crowns with a victory that returned him to world number one.

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