IT was not as smooth as many had predicted for the seven-time Australian Open champion, but Novak Djokovic dug deep to take home his eighth crown with a five-set win over Dominic Thiem last night. The new world number one had to fight back from a two sets to one deficit, eventually winning 6-4 4-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 but not without plenty of talking points in the victory. From heavily weighted crowd support for his opponent and Djokovic biting back with some choice words early in the match, to a couple of code violations and tapping the chair umpire on the foot as he changed ends, it was not his usual composed self. In fact, had it been a Nick Kyrgios or Fabio Fognini, you would see it plastered everywhere as the headline news in the victory. But credit to the Serbian who regained his composure to get home in four hours on Rod Laver Arena.

Early on it looked like it was going to be business as usual for the favourite, with Djokovic’s trademark early break in Thiem’s first service game – where Thiem hit four unforced errors – handing him a 3-0 lead by the time he had held for the second time. But the Austrian showed he meant business, breaking back with a error-riddled seventh game from the Serbian. Leading 5-4, Djokovic again made his move in the tenth game, converting his second break from his fourth break point to win the set off the back of another five unforced errors from Thiem. Djokovic was only serving at 65 per cent success rate off his first serve, but was winning 46 per cent of the point’s off the Austrian’s racquet. The world number two hit a strange 14 unforced errors to nine as he looked unsettled despite winning the set, while Thiem did not drop his head.

Instead, the Austrian world number five broke the Serbian first in the second set, winning off a third break point opportunity in the third game, and took an early lead. Djokovic had a chance to break back in the sixth game, but it was saved by Thiem who went on to hold serve and move to a 4-2 lead. The Djokovic of old roared to life however, hitting three winners in his service game, then broke back off his first break point opportunity in the eighth game to level the scores at 4-4. No-one expected what happened next however, as Thiem hit straight back, breaking the Serbian yet again off back-to-back unforced errors, then held his serve comfortably to level the match at one set all. Thiem was all guns blazing with an 81 per cent first serve point percentage, while hitting another 13 winners to Djokovic’s seven, while only recording 11 unforced errors to 13.

Knowing Djokovic would be hungry to immediately charge back, Thiem got on the front foot and broke the Serbian yet again, this time in the first game of the third set, again off back-to-back unforced errors from Djokovic. He held serve strongly, then stunningly broke his opponent again, racing to a 4-0 lead to have the Rod Laver crowd on its feet, but also stunned at the same time. While Djokovic showed glimpses of his unbelievable talent – including three winners in his next service game, Thiem’s offensive game was on song with consistent winners and a reliable efficiency to be able to regularly hold. Trailing 2-5 in the third set, Djokovic pushed hard to try and break Thiem, saving three set points and creating a break point opportunity, only to then produce two unforced errors and fall yet again and now trail two sets to one. The Austrian was leading in nearly all statistical areas with 11 winners to seven, though Djokovic was beginning to find the balance between winners and unforced errors thanks to 12 and 13 respectively. His first serve was just un-Djokovic in the set, looking rattled with a 46 per cent efficiency, though Thiem was not much better at 53 per cent.

The fourth set saw both players showing off their skill with a combined 23 winners (13-10 Djokovic’s way) and only 12 unforced errors (5-7 Djokovic’s way). But the Serbian’s dominant serving game returned in the set, serving at 70 per cent efficiency and winning all bar two poins off it, saving the only break point opportunity created. Thiem served at a healthy 63 per cent and also only dropped two points off his first serve, but won just two of nine second serve points which resulted in Djokovic finding a way through to break in the eighth game. Trailing 3-5, Thiem hit a couple of winners, but also a couple of unforced errors, saving one break point but then going down in the next to hand the world number two a 5-3 lead. Djokovic did not need any more help, serving out the set to love in his service game and levelled the match at two sets a piece.

The stage was set for a ripping fifth set, but Djokovic made it somewhat anti-climatic with another service game to love, then watched as Thiem unravelled with four unforced errors in the third game for the Serbian to lead 2-1, then fend off a break point to extend that lead to 3-1. The Austrian saved a break point himself in the seventh game as Djokovic threw everything at him to try and achieve the double break, and while the Serbian champion hit three unforced errors in the ninth game of the set to give Thiem a chance to try and break back in the tenth game, three unforced errors of the Austrian’s own in that final game ultimately cost him, going down 4-6 in the decider. Unlike the fourth set, it was not a set either player would particularly grab the box set to rewatch, as Djokovic hit 12 unforced errors to go with his five winners, while Thiem had 16 and nine respectively. It was the Serbian’s serving ability, winning 84 and 60 per cent off his first and second serve points to Thiem’s 64 and 55 per cent respectively. Djokovic also claimed 39 per cent of his receiving points – despite only breaking once – while Thiem only managed 24 per cent and failed to capitalise on either break point opportunity created in the set.

Overall on paper, Thiem deserved to be every bit crowned the winner as Djokovic, but a shaky fifth set following an unlucky fourth set showed why the now 17-time Grand Slam winner has been able to achieve what he has on the ATP Tour. He was not as clean as usual – hitting 46 winners and 57 unforced errors for the match – but when it counted he stood up and finished with a 76 per cent first serve points winning ratio, while converting 83 per cent of his points at the net. Thiem served 13 aces which was four more than Djokovic to many’s surprise, though he won less points off his serve, and while he hit 55 winners, could not finish off the world number two when it mattered. There was enough in the match to suggest a Grand Slam title is not too far away for the Austrian, but for now he will be ruing a missed opportunity against the world’s best player.