MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – The latest on Day 14 of the Australian Open tennis tournament (all times local):
9.40 p.m.
Novak Djokovic has beaten Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 to win his ninth Australian Open championship and 18th Grand Slam title.
The number 1 Djokovic won the trophy three years in a row at Melbourne Park.
He has won six of the last 10 major tournaments in total and his total of 18 slams move him within two of the men’s records of 20 shared by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Medvedev with the number 4 tried to get his first Grand Slam title on Sunday.
But Djokovic used an excellent performance and his usual superb performance to end the Russian’s 20-game winning streak.
Medvedev had also won his last 12 games against top 10 opponents.
———
9:05 pm
Novak Djokovic has two sets ahead of Daniil Medvedev in the final of the Australian Open.
Djokovic got the start with 7: 5 and the second with 6: 2.
Medvedev destroyed his bat by hurling it onto the pitch after missing a return, only to fall back 5-2 in the second set.
He broke to start the set, but Djokovic then stumbled four games in a row.
Djokovic is now one set away from his ninth championship at Melbourne Park and 18th Grand Slam title overall.
Medvedev must win three sets in a row to claim his first major trophy. He’s never won a match after dropping the first two sets.
———
8:30 p.m.
Novak Djokovic won the opening set of the Australian Open final against Daniil Medvedev 7: 5.
They were at 5 before Djokovic fell in love and then broke Medvedev.
There were several lengthy exchanges at the baseline that lasted at least 10 strokes in that set and Djokovic had an 8-5 advantage on those points.
Djokovic is aiming for a ninth Australian Open trophy and an 18th Grand Slam title.
Medvedev is aiming for his first major championship.
———
7:46 pm
Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev started the Australian Open men’s final.
Rod Laver Arena is roughly half full after spectators were completely banned from the tournament five days earlier due to a local COVID-19 lockdown. The capacity of the crowd has been reduced to 50% in accordance with regulations in force during the pandemic.
The temperature is in the mid-60s Fahrenheit (below 20 degrees Celsius).
Djokovic is number 1 and is competing for a third title in a row at Melbourne Park and ninth overall.
This is his 28th Grand Slam final. He has previously won 17.
Medvedev is number 4 and is competing in his second grand final after finishing second with Rafael Nadal at the 2019 US Open.
Medvedev starts on Sunday with a winning streak of 20 games.
———
6 p.m.
Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev are preparing for the final of the Australian Open.
You will be expected in court at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday at around 7:30 p.m. local time (3:30 a.m. EST).
Djokovic is number 1 and the two-time defending champion. He is looking for a ninth trophy in Melbourne Park and the 18th Grand Slam title overall.
That would move him within two of the man’s records of 20 shared by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Medvedev is trying to collect his first Grand Slam title.
This is his second grand finale. He starts on Sunday with a winning streak of 20 games.
The 25-year-old from Russia has also won his last 12 games against the top 10 opponents.
———
17 o’clock
Filip Polasek and Ivan Dodig won the men’s double title at the Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-4 win over the 2020 champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury.
Ram, a 36-year-old American who had spent two weeks in tough quarantine after arriving in Australia last month, attempted a doubles at Melbourne Park after winning the mixed doubles title with Barbora Krejcikova on Saturday night.
35-year-old Polasek dedicated the victory to his newborn daughter.
Ram secured a championship point in game nine and held, but Polasek sealed the title in the next game.
Novak Djokovic is competing in the final on late Sunday for the ninth Australian Open individual title against fourth Daniil Medvedev.
———
More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in any way without permission.
Comments are closed.