Djokovic wins 2008 Australian Open

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MELBOURNE, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Serbia's Novak Djokovic won his first Grand Slam title Sunday, beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a three hour final match at the 2008 Australian Open.

Third-ranked Djokovic lost the first set against Tsonga before overcoming the upstart Frenchman 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) at Melbourne Park.

Djokovic dropped the first set as French fans taunted the Serb's family in the stands, prompting security officials to calm the crowd.

He recovered to level the match at one set each, giving him the momentum needed to take the third set before the fourth match at Rod Laver Arena.

Extra sessions were needed to decide the fourth set with Djokovic rallying with a series of scorching forehands to take a 4-1 lead over Tsonga.

Djokovic emerged 5-1 following a double-fault by Tsonga giving the Serb the opportunity to take the match when Tsonga blew a final forehand.

Djokovic, the third-youngest Aussie Open champion, blew past Roger Federer Friday in straight sets.

"Jo has had an unbelievable tournament and he should be proud of himself," said Djokovic, the first Serbian to win a Grand Slam event. "If he had won tonight it would have been absolutely deserved, so well done for his success. I still can't believe what I've done beating the world's top players in a Grand Slam."