History beckons if Djokovic can shut out the noise

Only Tsitsipas and his fans can stop Serb’s 10th Australian win

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS is so loved in this part of the world that the city’s most famous Greek restaurant is selling food named after him at Melbourne Park.

And the fact that the Stef Gyro can be bought by his thousands of followers of Greek heritage here gives a pointer, perhaps strangely, as to how he might be able to topple Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final.

Djokovic remains at, or close to, the peak of his powers and has few vulnerabilities, fewer still at this venue where he has won nine times. After the events of 12 months ago, none of them would make as big a statement as his 10th. It would represent an amazing rebound from his deportation following his choice not to take a Covid jab and he will have to be admired for it.

If the Greek is to stop him several things must happen, one of them being his opponent feeling the significance of the occasion. As he showed in his semi-final against American Tommy Paul in the first set, the 35-year-old Serbian can get rattled by what he perceives as hostility from the crowd.

With Tsitsipas being something of the golden boy in Melbourne — due to his nationality, his flowing game and flowing mane and quirky personality — there is the chance of a partisan atmosphere developing if the challenger can get a foothold in the match.

After nearly a month back in Australia, the public have been reminded of how the Serb not only has a genius for tennis but also for attracting controversy.

Claims that his father’s posturing with Vladimir Putin supporters outside the Rod Laver Arena was an innocent mistake are viewed sceptically by the less ingenuous and Srdjan has form for outrageous statements. Novak is not responsible for the sins of his father, but will not thank him if he ends up playing in a hostile environment.

What the incident has actually obscured is the other main controversy around him this fortnight, which ranks ahead of his self-declared toilet break in the first week and the overhyped questions around him being ferried energy drinks on court.

That is the true extent of his hamstring injury, which has been the most important determining factor of the men’s tournament. By last weekend, some in and around the locker room were openly questioning its severity and words were said in the inner confines.

Coincidentally or not, since then there has been little sign of any restriction in the affected area. Certainly none of the theatrical falls to the ground, such as after set point against Grigor Dimitrov in the third round.

Arguably nobody in the history of the sport has moved better than Djokovic and, however talented Tsitsipas is, he is likely to find him an impenetrable wall. It is also a key fact that the Serb’s return of serve remains clearly superior to everyone else’s. Providing he remains calm amid an atmosphere that is not too febrile, it is difficult to see an upset.

Djokovic is a canny and experienced operator. Amid his calm and eloquent defence of his father on Friday night, his response was masterful when asked about what the crowd would be like. ‘I’m really excited and privileged to be in that finals against Tsitsipas,’ he said. ‘The Serbs and Greeks historically get along very well. I just don’t think there’s going to be any conflict on and off the court in terms of the crowd. On the contrary, I’m confident that people will support their respective players in a respectful way.’ Much is at stake for both men, for whoever wins will take the world No 1 ranking and, in the case of Djokovic, there could be no question it would be his rightful position.

Largely due to the fact that he cannot enter the United States due to his unvaccinated status, a position that will hold until April at the earliest, he has only played 15 tournaments counting towards his ranking, whereas Tsitsipas has 23.

The Greek has reached four semi-finals in Melbourne and is instinctively comfortable in Australia, one of the few players whose presence leads to a surge in ticket sales wherever he appears. For four years he has been in the vanguard of the challenger pack, without having been able to make a breakthrough. Djokovic will be wary that the nearest he came was when they met in the 2021 French Open final. The Greek led by two sets to love but the next three were not close as Djokovic figured a way through. He leads their head-to-head series 10-2.

There was a moment of levity earlier in the tournament when the Serb considered his rivals and, referring to Tsitsipas, had clearly forgotten that the two of them had met in the championship match at Roland Garros.

Djokovic, who apologised, could be excused as he will have now played a record-breaking 33 major finals. With Roger Federer retired and Rafael Nadal’s body letting him down, the likelihood is that he will play and win quite a few more.