09 January,2023 09:27 AM IST | Adelaide | AFP
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic with the Adelaide International trophy yesterday. Pic/AFP
Top seed Novak Djokovic saved a match point on Sunday before defeating Sebastian Korda to win the Adelaide International and reinforce his status as a heavy title favourite for the Australian Open.
The 21-time Grand Slam winner needed more than three hours to stamp his authority on his unseeded American opponent, son of former World No.2 Petr Korda, 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.
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In doing so, Djokovic extended his unbeaten streak in Australia to 34 straight matches. The winner of 92 career titles now heads to the Australian Open in about a week with momentum in his bid to secure the Grand Slam for a 10th time, helped by the absence at Melbourne Park of injured World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz.
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Djokovic, the 2007 champion at Adelaide in the early days of his career, called the pre-Open tune-up week "very special for me", thrilled by overwhelming fan enthusiasm. "It definitely felt like playing at home. It's been an amazing week. To be standing here is a gift definitely," said the Serbian World No.5, who missed last year's Australian Open after being deported over his vaccination status. "I gave it my all today and throughout the week in order to be able to get my hands on this trophy. 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," he added, with packed pro-Djokovic crowds whenever he played.
Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka fired an Australian Open warning shot Sunday by winning her first title since 2021 at the Adelaide International, beating rising Czech teenager Linda Noskova 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).
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