Djokovic captures first slam

By Ossian Shine

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic stood toe-to-toe with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and soaked up everything the Muhammad Ali of tennis could throw at him before delivering a knock-out blow to clinch the Australian Open title on Sunday.

Tsonga, nicknamed Ali for his resemblance to the former heavyweight boxing champion, was the crowd favourite to win his first grand slam but Djokovic was too solid and too steely and it was the Serb who snatched his first major title 4-6 6-4 6-3 7-6.

"I am very happy to have won my first grand slam here," the third seed smiled to the crowd. "I hope to see you here in this position many times more.

"I want to thank all the Serbian fans who came here to support me -- I am so proud to be the first Serbian to win a grand slam title.

"I think it will be crazy house back in Serbia right now."

Monica Seles won three Australian Open titles while competing under the Yugoslav flag from 1991-1993.

Unseeded Tsonga came out swinging, needing 49 minutes to clinch the opener and fuel his country's hopes he could become the first Frenchman to win the Open in 80 years.

BURLY FRENCHMAN