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.

The past month saw him in the spotlight after returning to a nation he was kicked out of last year, in the wake of 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.

But 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.

“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.

But 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 tiebreak that will not exactly live in the annals of tennis history.