Novak Djokovic wins the Adelaide International after thrilling three-set win over Sebastian Korda
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Updated 08/01/2023 at 12:55 GMT
Novak Djokovic secured his 92nd career title and his 34th consecutive win on Australian soil, but was made to work exceptionally hard by the American Sebastian Korda. Ultimately though, the Serb continued his love affair down under with a 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 win over the plucky world no.33, with the first two sets decided by tie-breaks. Djokovic is looking for a tenth Grand Slam in Australia.
Top seed Djokovic digs deep to overcome resilient Korda in thrilling Adelaide final
Novak Djokovic continued his ideal preparation for the Australian Open after overcoming Sebastian Korda 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 in the Adelaide International final.
It was Djokovic’s 34th consecutive win in Australia, with the run stretching back five years, but the Serb did not have everything his own way in a tense encounter against the American that last three hours and 11 minutes.
Korda took home the first set by winning the first set after an epic 10-8 win in an incredible tie-break.
The first eight games all went to serve, before the American broke Djokovic for the first time in the match to move 5-4 ahead.
Djokovic showed brilliant fighting spirit to save three set points to keep himself in the contest and level the score at 5-5 to break Korda on his serve.
After winning the next game to 30 and moving 6-5 ahead, Korda was able to stave off a set a point for Djokovic to move the score to 6-6 ahead of an absorbing tie-break.
The American ultimately prevailed on his fourth set point in the tie-break, as the first set was decided after a mammoth one hour and 14 minutes.
It set the tone for this titanic tussle, as the second set went to another tie-break, which crucially went in Djokovic’s favour.
All 12 games went to serve, but Djokovic showed amazing resilience to fight off a championship point for Korda and leave nothing to separate the duo once again.
The tie-break proved to be more straightforward for the Serb, who levelled the overall scores with a 7-3 win.
Both players showed their class at the beginning of the third set, as Djokovic moved into a 2-1 lead after three games, with all of those won to love.
Korda would not go away quietly, and fought off two break points for Djokovic to win the fourth game on his serve and levelled things off at 2-2.
The next five games would all go to serve, leaving the world no.33 serving to keep himself in the match, but his firm resistance was ultimately broken.
Djokovic would break Korda on his serve in a brilliant tenth game to sum up the exhilarating tennis on display, winning the decisive set 6-4.
The 35-year-old celebrated his 92nd career title and now looks forward to the Australian Open with renewed vigour, as he targets a tenth Grand Slam Down Under.
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