NOVAK Djokovic looked spent and on the verge of losing after staring at a 2-1 deficit in sets contested.
Defeat was hovering hugely like a boulder of a dark cloud about to explode into a downpour.
A doctor and a therapist offered to help him during a changeover.
He refused neither medication nor a massage.
Feeling dizzy and appearing fagged out, he drank an anti-oxidant.
Seemingly, that proved to be an elixir of sorts.
Gone, almost inexplicably, after three, four, gulps was the tentativeness in his strokes.
His mountain of unforced errors—57 alone in the first set—were significantly reduced starting in the fourth set.
Obviously rejuvenated—and definitely not a joke—he even uncharacteristically rushed the nets twice on his serve while a breakpoint faced him.
When he survived it, at 2-1, in the fourth set, he xeroxed it, courageously, in the fifth with the score also at 2-1, before zooming ahead to 5-3 as Dominic Thiem finally showed gaping cracks in the shape of a shoddy volley into the net, a double-fault and a long forehand.
From there, it didn’t take long before Djokovic would complete a mighty comeback to win 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 and claim a record eighth Australian Open on Sunday in Melbourne.
“My energy dropped significantly,” said Djokovic. “I was on the brink of losing the match. Dominic disrupted the rhythm in my game at one point…. Probably one point—and one shot—separated us tonight.”
When Thiem’s tough challenge came alive again after inching to within 4-5 from 3-5 in the deciding fifth set, Djokovic finally showed who was the hardcourt boss.
Serving for the match, Djokovic dulled Thiem’s sizzling forehand winner with a quick ace for 15-all, then forced the 25-year-old Austrian to an unforced error at the 3:58 hour mark.
That sparked Djokovic’s fiery finish, rattling off back-to-back blistering winners to officially capture his 17th major in four hours flat en route to a record 11th win on hardcourt Slam finals, adding his three other US Opens.
“It was anybody’s game, really,” said Djokovic, who is now three off Roger Federer’s all-time best of 20 majors, with Rafael Nadal second with 19.
“Amazing achievement,” said Thiem, who is now 0-3 in a Slam final, of Djokovic’s escape act. “You and two other guys [Federer and Nadal], I think you brought men’s tennis to a complete new level.”
Well said.
From 2003, the Big Three had won 56 of the last 67 majors.
But looking ahead, though, and you’ll see that the French Open in May-June will feature Nadal once again as the heavy favorite.
Because with 12 French Open across his name, Nadal is miles ahead of Djokovic and Federer, who have only one apiece at Roland Garros.
I’m sure Nadal, easily the undisputed King of Clay, is raring to nail a 13th French Open, if only to avenge his painful four-set loss to Thiem in the Aussie Open semifinals.
But will Federer, turning 39 on August 8, allow Nadal, 33, to equal his record 20 majors?
And never rule out Djokovic, 32, who now has won six of the last eight Slams dating back to Wimbledon 2018.
I guess the Big Three will be around a little bit longer.
The young ones must continue applauding.
THAT’S IT Here’s a glass to the members of the Pampanga High School Class 1958 who will celebrate their 62nd reunion on February 8 (10 a.m. onward) at Villa Victoria Multi-Purpose Hall, Brgy. Dolores, San Fernando City. The members of the organizing committee—Red del Rosario (USA), Jake P. Ayson (Phl), Millet Lacsina, Lulu Lusong, Glo Yutuc, Ceny Wy, Noel Perez, Elias/Gigi Miranda and Vangie Cayanga—deserve commendation for their unselfish support to ensure that the event become a huge success. Cheers!