Novak Djokovic has won his 10th Australian Open title and equalled Rafael Nadal's record of 22 men's grand slam singles titles after what he called the "biggest victory" of his life.
Djokovic will also reclaim the world number one ranking from Spain's Carlos Alcaraz after his 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5) victory over third-seeded Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The 35-year-old Serbian sobbed uncontrollably after the match as emotion poured out of him.
This past month saw him in the spotlight after returning to a nation he was kicked out of last year, after a COVID-related stoush with the Morrison government.
His injuries were questioned and his father — still absent from his box on Sunday night — after a video showed him with Russian supporters put Djokovic at the centre of controversy.
However, post-match, Tsitsipas called him "the greatest to ever hold a racquet", and it elicited a response from Djokovic who said he was touched by the Greek's words before revealing the toll the past year had taken.
"This has been one of the most challenging tournaments that I've played in my life," he said
"Given the circumstances, not playing last year … I want to thank everyone who made me come back and made me welcome.
"There is a reason why I have played my best tennis on this court, in Australia.
"I just have to say this because only the team and the family knows what we've been through in the last four or five weeks.
"This probably is, I would say the biggest victory of my life, considering the circumstances."
And what it meant to him was evident from even before he went out on court.
The heavy strapping that had been on his hamstring for the entire fortnight was removed, as if to let Tsitsipas know, this was no longer a wounded opponent.
When he raced out of the blocks — playing at the high level that saw him destroy both Alex De Minaur and Andrey Rublev — and a Tsitsipas double fault allowed Djokovic to break in the fourth game of the match, the arena erupted in chants of "Nole, Nole, Nole".
The large contingent of Greek fans had been rendered silent and the atmosphere inside Rod Laver Arena was more reminiscent of an international football match.
Djokovic, too, was buoyed and he should have been, Tsitsipas won just five points against the Djokovic serve and looked overawed and timid in just his second grand slam final.
However, in the second set the complexion of the match changed entirely.
Tsitsipas, who had been a passive passenger in the opening set upped his level and his firepower, particularly off the forehand.
While he mixed it up in terms of spins and velocity, when he decided to uncork on it he left Djokovic standing on multiple occasions.
And when the serve also picked up Novak's temper frayed.
Aces and unreturnable serves, frustrated one of the greatest returners to ever play the sport and he went at his box, most notably coach and one-time Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanišević.
A frustrated looking Ivanišević could do little but take the abuse as Djokovic got demonstrative.
Tsitsipas, on the other hand, grew stronger, and was roaring and thumping his chest.
He had his chance at 5-4, but Djokovic, facing his first break point of the match on a set point, calmly controlled it and unleashed a savage forehand winner to save the set.
Without a single break it was off to a tie-break that will not exactly live in the annals of tennis history.
Seven of the 11 points in the breaker were decided with unforced errors.
Djokovic missed backhands and double-faulted, while Tsitsipas's forehand deserted him with five errors from the wing, to hand the tie-break to the future Hall of Famer.
Tsitsipas though would not give up and after Djokovic took a long comfort break, he broke the Serbian in the opening game of the third as the Greek fans erupted.
However, Djokovic broke right back before the pair traded comfortable service holds all the way to a tie-break.
That tie-break was simply brutal as Djokovic dominated Tsitsipas, pushing him all over the court with tremendous power to take a 5-0 lead.
Try as he might, Tsitsipas could not bridge that gap.
He got it back to 5-3 with some brilliant play before a Djokovic forehand winner gave him three championship points.
Tsitsipas saved a pair with big first serves to get it back to 6-5 before Djokovic claimed the match and title, courtesy of a forehand that forced Tsitsipas's final error.
Look back on how the match unfolded as it happened in our blog.
Key events
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Live updates
That's a wrap
By Paul Johnson
That's it from me too.
A big thanks to all of you who have read our coverage of the Australian Open over the last 14 days.
We had a new champion, some Aussie success, plenty of drama and witnessed the brilliance of Novak Djokovic once again.
We will have all the reaction from the press conferences in the morning.
OK, let's wrap this up
By Simon Smale
Thank you very much for being with us to witness history as Novak Djokovic wins his tenth Australian Open title - surely cementing himself as one of the all time greats of the sport.
It's been a tournament that's had its ups and downs this year, but has delivered some massive crowds and plenty of storylines.
Check out the ABC Sport website for all the news and fallout from tonight's final in the morning.
Huge thanks to Luke Pentony at Melbourne Park and Paul Johnson for all their work this tournament, but from me, Simon Smale, we'll see you again real soon.
Good night.
New jacket for Novak
By Simon Smale
He must have been confident, having the pre-prepared jacket in the kit bag...
Nick is a fan.
The bromance is alive and well.
'This is the biggest victory of my life': Djokovic says
By Simon Smale
Novak Djokovic of course, was not here last year.
He says that his journey back to Australia and the tribulations he went through have made this his greatest triumph.
"This has been one of the most challenging tournaments that I've played in my life," he says.
"Given the circumstances, not playing last year ...
"I want to thanke veryone who made me come back and made me welcome.
"There is a reason why I have played my best tennis on this court, in Australia.
"Only the team and family know what we have been through the past five weeks.
"I feel this is the biggest victory of my life, given the circumstances."
Djokovic thanks Tsitsipas
By Simon Smale
And here is the ten-time Australian Open champion, accepting his trophy from Ken Rosewall, and surely it is his trophy now.
"I'm touched by Stefanos' words," he starts.
"Thank you for being so respectful.
"I acknowledge your effort this tournament. Tough luck tonight, it was definitely a tough battle.
"You have more time [to make more finals], more than me," he says.
He then talks about where he and Tsitsipas have come from, two nations that do not have a great tennis herritage.
I want to say something about Serbia and Greece.
"We are relatively two small countries that don't have tennis tradition We didn't have too many players to look up to, so I think the message for any player around the world who is dreaming to be here, dream big., Anything is possible. Don't let anyone take over your dream. Water it like you water the flowers.
"Dream big, because you can make it.
He thanks his team too, saying "I don't take anything for granted" and that he hopes Goran will forgive him for his outbursts.
'Thank you for pushing our sport so far': Tsitsipas
By Simon Smale
Stefanos Tsitsipas accepts his runners up trophy.
"Novak, I don't know what to say," he starts.
"I think it speaks for itself what you have achieved so far, it's the numbers.
"I admire what you have done for our sport and I think you make me a better player.
"Novak brings out the best in me and these are the matches I have worked my whole life to play for.
"He is one of the greatest in our sport.
"He is the greatest to ever hold a racquet.
"Thank you for pushing our sport so far."
I wonder if that will mean as much, if not more, to Novak than actually winning.
Nick Kyrgios reckons Novak has a few more slams left in him...
By Simon Smale
What new generation?
By Simon Smale
Thanks for the blog guys, I was hoping for more of a competition but not surprised at the outcome - the 'old guard' hasn't completely faded.
- Mike
They're knocking at the door.
But the old dogs - the two that remain, that is, still have ultimate control of the big events in world tennis.
Djokovic today was simply sublime. Again.
That's the tenth grand slam title Djokovic has won after he passed the age of 30.
Incredible.
What a difference a year makes
By Simon Smale
Let's remember, last year Novak Djokovic had been kicked out of Australia and was watching on at home as Rafael Nadal won a stunning title of his own.
The emotional toll that must take?
I think we're seeing that on court as the tears continue to flow.
Enjoy him while he lasts
By Simon Smale
Wow, so much sour grapes from the Djokovic haters out there. Why can't we just enjoy this outstanding athlete?
- Don
It's interesting, because in the build up he said he did not now how many more opportunities he would get to keep doing this.
He is the number one player and has shown us time and time again.
We are witnessing greatness.
Enjoy what we're seeing.
Djokovic cries uncontrollably in his players box
By Simon Smale
Novak Djokovic is sobbing, uncontrollably in his players box.
He's collapsed onto the ground and is lying on his back, eyes covered, heaving sobs racking his body.
That's a huge outpouring of emotion that we've not often seen, not since he lost the US Open final in 2021 from memory.
Then it was tears of frustration.
This time it's all joy.
Novak Djokovic wins his tenth Australian Open!
By Simon Smale
Extraordinary performance from an extraordinary player.
He has once again made Rod Laver Arena his own personal playground, winning his tenth title here.
Ten!
He taps the ground as if to thank it, and why not.
Just two other players in the open era have won double figure slams at a single venue. Margaret Court won 11 Australian Opens, and Rafael Nadal has won 14 French Opens.
With his tenth Australian Open title, he equals Nadal's 22 grand slam singles titles.
Third set tiebreak
By Simon Smale
Djokovic *0-0 Tsitsipas
Solid serve to the forehand and Tsitsipas misses with the return.
Djokovic 1-0* Tsitsipas
Return winner off the second serve as Djokovic smashes a forehand into the open court, attacking the return by moving around to the forehand side.
Djokovic 2-0* Tsitsipas
Oh and now Tsitsipas sends a forehand wide! Double minibreak.
Djokovic *3-0 Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas sends a return long! The end could be nigh here!
Djokovic *4-0 Tsitsipas
More calling as Djokovic prepares to serve from the crowd. More admonishment from the umpire.
Into the net goes Tsitsipas, who is falling apart in this tie breaker!
Djokovic 5-0* Tsitsipas
Djokovic targets the backhand repeatedly and then a fan screams out during the point, Djokovic clearly distracted, and glares up into the stands as he pushes his subsequent shot wide.
There was even talking as Tsitsipas served as well, the crowd getting rowdier and rowdier as the end approaches.
Djokovic 5-1* Tsitsipas
Good serve for Tsitsipas, Djokovic can't return it.
Djokovic *5-2 Tsitsipas
Forehand vs forehand for a long rally before they mix things up and a Tsitsipas backhand slice wins him the point as Djokovic nets at the net!
Djokovic *5-3 Tsitsipas
A backhand battle this time until Djokovic unloads and opens up with the final forehand into the open court.
Three championship points.
Djokovic 6-3* Tsitsipas
Djokovic sends a return off a second serve wide into the tramlines.
Djokovic 6-4* Tsitsipas
Good serve, a one-two punch and Tsitsipas has saved two of those championship points.
Djokovic *6-5 Tsitsipas
He's done it!
Djokovic 6-5* Tsitsipas, 6-3, 7-6
By Simon Smale
Djokovic is a game away from history.
Great point first up, lovely recovery shots from Tsitsipas on the backhand twice, and Djokovic never gave up during the point only to send a shot long when it counted. 15-0.
Long goes Djokovic with the return. 30-0.
Wide goes Tsitsipas, set up by a wonderfully deep shot from Djokovic. 30-15.
Ace! 40-15!
A brilliantly deep return from Djokovic has Tsitsipas scrambling, his return shot almost turns into a drop shot but Djokovic closes the ground and forces the Greek into hitting long, Djokovic withdrawing his racquet just at the right time.
Ace to send us to a tie break!
He doesn't loose many, that's for sure
By Simon Smale
Prefer a human to a cranky robot. A loss would be character building for Novak.
- Susan
Djokovic *5-5 Tsitsipas, 6-3, 7-6
By Simon Smale
Another stupid shout from someone in the crowd puts Djokovic off and he walks away as the umpire tells everyone again not to shout as players are about to serve.
Djokovic eventually puts Tsitsipas away after a couple of half-hearted smashes - almost as if Djokovic is keeping something in reserve?
Ace down the T, clipping the outside of the line for 30-0.
Return is long from Tsitsipas. 40-0.
Solid hold to love for Djokovic.
