Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak Djokovic – Final – Preview & Prediction | 2023 Australian Open
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THE FACTS
When is Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak Djokovic on and what time does it start? Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak Djokovic will take place on Sunday 29th January, 2023 – not before 08:30 (UK)
Where is Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak Djokovic taking place? Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak Djokovic will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak Djokovic being played on? Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak Djokovic will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak Djokovic? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak Djokovic
What channel is Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak Djokovic on in the UK? Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak Djokovic will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak Djokovic in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak Djokovic live on their website, while Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match live on Sky Go
THE LOWDOWN
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS
World number four Stefanos Tsitsipas is through to the second Grand Slam final of his career after an excellent performance to beat Karen Khachanov in four sets on Friday. The 24-year-old lost his first Grand Slam final from two sets up to Novak Djokovic at Roland-Garros back in 2021, something that seriously affected his confidence and form for much of the last two seasons. Tsitsipas looks to have earned his place here with a refreshed mentality, though, going 10 matches unbeaten so far in 2023. Former world number three Tsitsipas’ best result to date is winning the 2019 ATP Finals.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
35-year-old Novak Djokovic made it 39 wins on the spin in Australia with another comprehensive victory in Melbourne over Tommy Paul, his 27th win at the Australian Open in a row. Amongst his many current runs is a 16-match winning streak that started with victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas at the ATP Finals last November. The Serb is the record title-holder here with nine and he can extend that record on Sunday whilst also levelling Rafael Nadal’s Men’s Grand Slam singles record of 22. Djokovic is technically defending a trio of Australian Open titles here after lifting the trophy in each of his last three appearances, with last season’s deportation clearly extra motivation to make it four in a row. Djokovic is also owns the record for most weeks at world number one and he can return to the top for the first time since last summer with victory here.
THE PREDICTION
There is an incredible amount on the line in this match for both players but particularly Novak Djokovic. Both players can become world number one with victory here and it would no doubt change the course of Stefanos Tsitsipas’ career to win a Grand Slam as a player who appears to have less self-belief than he lets on but it is hard to see Djokovic letting this one go for anything. To level Rafael Nadal’s Men’s Grand Slam record here on Rod Laver, where the Spaniard set the new record last year in Djokovic’s infamous absence, would mean everything to the Serb – especially after the furore surrounding his deportation last season and the subsequent ill feeling towards him in the media and at tournaments across the world. Whilst there is certainly something troubling the Serb on court he has blasted past his last four opponents, each of them top 30 players in their own rights, with incredible efficiency and a level of tennis that no one on tour could feasibly combat at this moment in time.
Stefanos Tsitsipas took the first two sets from Djokovic at Roland-Garros in 2021 before capitulating in a five-set defeat, losing by a similar scoreline in the semi-finals there the season before, as part of the Serb’s incredible nine-match winning streak over him. That Roland-Garros final defeat changed something in Tsitsipas, who beat Djokovic twice in the first three times they met as a much more instinctive, positive player than we see the majority of the time on tour these days. In his current guise, Tsitsipas could be backed to beat any other player in the Australian Open final but record title-holder Djokovic and this likely loss will be another bitter pill to swallow. Djokovic leads Tsitsipas 10-2 in their head-to-head record and there is nowhere else on Earth, barring perhaps Wimbledon, where the Serb would choose to face the Greek. Tsitsipas took just one set in their four meetings last season but five sets gives him space to perhaps edge a tiebreak. Back Djokovic to win outright here, probably in four.
