Australian Open 2023 men’s singles final result - Novak Djokovic beats Stefanos Tsitsipas to win a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title and 10th in Melbourne

When Djokovic does dip he has an admirable way of resetting and surging through a few gears to catch his opponent off guard. He’s done it in the blink of an eye here to wrestle the scoreboard advantage his way and further dampen Stef's spirits.

That’s a disaster for Tsitsipas.

He roars into a 30-0 lead but miscues a make-able backhand to hand Nole a path back into it.

Djokovic accepts and despite seeing a first BP swatted away with a drive volley, the Serb forces a forehand error wide from his opponent to make it count on a second.

Hang on a second! After a lengthy delay between sets, Djokovic comes back and appears to be in a lull.

Stef catches the line with a crosscourt forehand and works his way to two break points. He blows the first when he loops long but then gets a gift from his opponent as Nole hooks a backhand just wide.

Tsitsipas breaks for the first time in the match!

The Serb could not have looked stronger as he stormed to the opening set in the Australian Open final - but he did take a nasty tumble during the second, which he also went on to win.

Djokovic almost implodes from 4-1 up but lures another forehand long from his opponent at 4-4 to regain control.

The Serb outlasts Stef again and when a backhand lands just long the 21-time major winner chalks up two set points.

Tsitsipas has no answer from there and Nole takes the breaker 7-4 to move within a set of a 10th Oz Open title and a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam.

The Tsitsipas forehand has been well below par today and it’s the key shot to any hopes he has of winning.

It fails him on three occasions here and leaves the No.3 seed with a mountain to climb.

There’s no such drama this time around as Djokovic secures a spot in a second-set tie break with a game to 30.

Djokovic has been gesturing and muttering to his box more and more as this set has worn on.

It shows Tsitsipas is getting to him a bit and the No.3 seed guarantees himself the minimum of a tie break with a pair of aces that conclude a very timely love hold.

Djokovic feels the heat with a couple of surprising errors off both flanks and then drills a backhand just wide to hand Stef set point.

The Greek hangs in a nervy rally for quite some time but Djokovic unleashes a brilliant forehand to fend it off and make deuce.

Stef then blows a forehand and a backhand to allow Djoker and his camp to heave a big sigh of relief.

A lovely forehand and a pair of aces put Stef in command but a near miss and some attacking play from Nole make it tricky until the Serb sizzles a backhand just long.

The nine-time champion must now hold to stay in the set.

Tsitsipas may well rue that game. He’s barely had any joy on the return but when a high bouncing backhand forces a wild miscue off Djokovic he has a look-in at 15-30.

A poor approach shot following a net cord lets Nole off the hook and the Greek then nets a volley with the Serb stranded way beyond the baseline.

Tsitsipas can’t hide his disappointment and a poor miss off the backhand allows Djokovic to chalk up a fortunate hold.

Tsitsipas finds himself in trouble at 15-30 but sends Nole tumbling with a wide backhand before thundering away a smash at the second attempt.

Djokovic recovers from his fall and presses at deuce when his opponent blows a simple volley at the net.

Tsitsipas plays a clutch forehand volley to gain the ascendancy before guessing right on a Djokovic forehand to lure a volleyed error via a crosscourt pass.

Stefanos bamboozles Novak with a short backhand but it’s as good as it gets for the No.3 seed as Djokovic reels off four easy points to level once more.

Tsitsipas looks a tad bemused when his forehand misfires off a 1-2 punch to leave him under further pressure on serve at 15-30.

He then escapes the elasticity of Djoker’s defences and roars towards the crowd as he takes charge of the game.

A double fault prolongs his anxiety at deuce but the Greek escapes with a ferocious forehand winner getting him out of dodge.

That’s a rare sight. Djokovic offers up back-to-back unforced errors off his backhand to give Stef his first half chance at 15-30.

The Greek is too passive on the ensuing points though and the former world No.1 puts away a smash before concluding the hold with an ace.

Stef’s forehand has belatedly come to the party! The No.3 seed finds some extra power off his favoured flank and then catches Djoker out with a drop shot to notch up a love hold.