Dizzy, dehydrated Djokovic MELBOURNE: Dominic Thiem said there are only u201c small detailsu201d between him and tennisu2019s Big Three Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, after losing the Australian Open final on Sunday to Djokovic.
The Austrian, 26, took down four seeds, including Nadal, to reach the final and was even up two sets to one, making him feel that he and others, notably Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, are close to challenging the Big Three. u201c I think itu2019s only small details. In the last two finalsu2014 US Open and hereu2014 it was close. It could have gone either way for Daniil in US Open [ v Nadal] and for me here,u201d he said, referring to Medvedevu2019s five- setter with Nadal in New York. u201c Itu2019s a bit of luck, little details here and there.
Maybe, if I converted the break point in Set 4, Iu2019d be the winner here.u201d AFP Thiem eyes Big Three breakthrough Serbian Novak Djokovicu2019s eight Australian Open title winsu2014 ( top left to right) 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013 and ( bottom left to right) 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2020. pic/ afp Serbiau2019s Novak Djokovic holds the Norman Brooks Challenge Cup trophy after winning the Australian Open final in Melbourne on Sunday. pic/ afp MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic admitted he was on the brink of defeat with dizziness and dehydration before winning a five- set thriller against Dominic Thiem to clinch a record eighth Australian Open crown and return to World No. 1 on Sunday.
The indomitable Serb stretched his unbeaten streak this season to 13 but had to rally from two sets to one down to beat the courageous Austrian 6- 4, 4- 6, 2- 6, 6- 3, 6- 4 in a nearly four- hour marathon. It was his 17th Grand Slam title, moving him within two of Rafael Nadal and three of Roger Federer on the all- time list.
u201c Definitely one of the toughest finals I have ever had in Australia,u201d said Djokovic, who pulled alongside Nadal ( 12 at the French Open) and Federer ( eight at Wimbledon) as only the third man ever to win eight or more titles at the same Slam.
u201c I was on the brink of losing, I didnu2019t feel that good.
Dominic was dominating from the baseline... then I regained the strength to pull through in the fourth set, and in the fifth, it was anyoneu2019s game.u201d The lethargic Serb looking out for the count in sets two and three before he regained his mojo after a medical timeout to grind down the talented Thiem Djokovic said he felt dizzy and sapped of energy, with his trainer telling him he was dehydrated. u201c My energy completely collapsed. When I was tossing the ball I started to feel dizzy... I couldnu2019t believe what was happening,u201d said Djokovic, who never before won a Slam final in seven previous attempts after being two sets to one down. u201c If you play a Grand Slam final against him, itu2019s always going to be a match where very small details decide it,u201d said Thiem.
AFP Serbian ace battled much more than just the talented Thiem before winning his 8th Australian Open on Sunday
