In an epic final, Novak Djokovic wins first title in Australia since his deportation last year

CNN  — 

Twelve months aft helium was deported from the country, Novak Djokovic is backmost successful Australia, winning titles and preparing for the Australian Open.

Djokovic won his archetypal rubric successful Australia since past year’s deportation, defeating American Sebastian Korda successful an epic three-setter last 6-7(8) 7-6(3) 6-4 astatine the Adelaide International connected Sunday.

Facing a title constituent astatine 5-6 successful the 2nd set, it seemed that the Serb would succumb to a daze decision to the satellite No. 33.

He had appeared visibly frustrated aft Korda had won the archetypal set, shouting and gesturing astatine his players’ box.

“I’d similar to convey my squad for handling me, tolerating maine successful the bully and atrocious times today,” Djokovic said afterwards, according to Sky Sports. “I’m definite they didn’t person specified a blast with maine going backmost and distant with them, but I admit them being here.”

But the acquisition of the 21-time expansive slam victor showed, and helium fought backmost from title constituent to instrumentality the 2nd acceptable successful a tiebreak and wrapper up the rubric successful the third.

The triumph was Djokovic’s 92nd tour-level trophy, equaling Rafael Nadal’s haul for the fourth-most singles titles successful the Open Era, down lone Jimmy Connors (109), Roger Federer (103) and Ivan Lendl (94)

“It’s been an astonishing week and you guys made it adjacent much special. For maine to beryllium lasting present is simply a gift, definitely,” Djokovic told the assemblage afterwards, according to the ATP website. “I gave it each contiguous and passim the week successful bid to beryllium capable to get my hands connected the trophy.

“The enactment that I’ve been getting successful the past 10 days is thing that I don’t deliberation I’ve experienced excessively galore times successful my life, truthful convey you truthful overmuch [to] everyone for coming retired each azygous match.”

It provides Djokovic with the cleanable level to motorboat his Australian Open campaign, wherever helium is seeking to triumph his 10th rubric arsenic good arsenic adjacent the men’s grounds of expansive slam titles, presently acceptable by Nadal astatine 22.

The Australian Open begins connected January 16 successful Melbourne.