World No. 1, Novak Djokovic has paid a tribute to world no. 4 – Daniil Medvedev after beating him on Sunday to clinch his ninth Australian Open title.

The fourth-seeded Medvedev gave the top-seeded Serbian a tough opening set but Djokovic’s eased through the remaining two sets to bag his third straight AO win and end the first-time finalist’s 20-match unbeaten run.

Djokovic took a 3-0 lead in the first set but the Russian responded after winning a 28-shot rally to find a way to break back and level up at 3-3. The set ended 7-5 in favour of the world no. 1.

Medvedev broke immediately at the start of the second but the 33-year-old responded by winning five out of the next six games as Medvedev began to unravel, venting his growing frustration on his racket.

Another break in the next game gave Djokovic the set 6-2 like the second set as he comfortably won the final of the completion in from of the 50% capacity crowd in cool conditions on Rod Laver Arena,

With the 7-5 6-2 6-2 in one hour 53 minutes, Djokovic took his Grand Slam count to 18, two shy of the 20 held by rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Speaking after the match Djokovic said, “I would like to thank this court, I would like to thank Rod Laver Arena, I love you each year more and more – the love affair keeps going.”

The top seed described Medvedev as one of the “toughest players I ever faced in my life” and paid tribute to the Russian’s promising future.

“It’s a matter of time when you’re going to hold a Grand Slam, that’s for sure … if you don’t mind waiting [a] few more years,” he laughed. (AO)