Melbourne (AFP)

Novak Djokovic won his 8th Australian Open on Sunday by beating Dominic Thiem 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, synonymous with 17th Grand Slam title which brings him closer to the record of Roger Federer (20) and allows it to become world N.1 again.

The 32-year-old Serbian holds the record for victories in Melbourne. Thiem, 26, fails for the third time in a Major final after Roland-Garros 2018 and 2019 where he had been beaten by Rafael Nadal.

"It is without a doubt my favorite tournament and I am blessed to have won it eight times," said Djokovic.

"Congratulations Novak, with Roger (Federer) and Rafa (Nadal), you took tennis to a whole new level. I am honored to play at that time, even if I was a little short tonight," said for his part Thiem obviously in the grip of a deep sadness.

"You could have won tonight and you have time to win not one, but many Grand Slam tournaments," said "Nole".

After easily winning the first round, taking advantage in particular of a double fault by Thiem on the set ball, Djokovic experienced a strange slump which allowed his Austrian opponent to return to the game and even take the commands to lead 2 sets to 1.

The Serb seemed completely apathetic and as if lost, no longer knowing how to take his adversary, him the master tactician.

He tried as much as possible to avoid the forehand of the Austrian, while committing many direct faults himself.

In total, Djokovic committed 57 direct faults, when he had conceded in all and for all only 9 in the final won last year against Nadal.

By winning the third set, Thiem has never been so close to a first major trophy, he who had never led in his first two finals.

But suddenly, in the 4th set, the game resumed height, at the same time that Djokovic regained energy after a time out during which he left the court.

And in the 5th set, Thiem, in turn, accumulated the faults (57 also on the whole game) and was dropped by his forehand.

With this title, Djokovic becomes the first player of the modern era (Open era, since 1969) to win Grand Slam tournaments in three different decades since his first in Australia in 2008, and the 2nd in history after Ken Rosewall in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

For its part, Thiem again becomes 4th in the world.

© 2020 AFP