Novak Djokovic overcame a mighty scare in the Australian Open final as he was made to work for his 17th Grand Slam title.It was the Serbian who got off to the ideal start, breaking Thiem early as all looked to be going according to plan.However, Thiem soon got into his stride, sending a warning to his much-fancied opponent about what was to come by earning a break of his own not long after.That was all the waking up that Djokovic needed though as he clicked up through the gears, breaking once again and clinching the first set off a criminal double fault from Thiem.Thiem wasn't about to roll over though and came roaring back into the clash in the second set - the pair trading breaks before Thiem efficiently closed out the set to level the match.Djokovic, who barely broke a sweat in the lead up to the final, was clearly rattled, getting caught up in a row with the umpire and even touching his foot on several occasions.

Thiem continued where he left off in the third, breaking Djokovic in his first and second service game before rattling through the rest of the set to set himself up for the grandest of upsets. 

Djokovic astonishingly looked devoid of answers as the inspired Austrian made the Rod Laver Arena his own, screaming towards an incredible first Grand Slam title.

Thiem had the 16-time Grand Slam champion on the ropes and, with Djokovic struggling to find any kind of traction in the game, he wasn't about to let up.

It seemed to make all the difference as Novak clawed his way back into the clash, kicking down the door after Thiem left it open just a crack.

A decisive break in the eighth game allowed him to serve it out as the Serbian refused to be beaten, ensuring that the final went the distance in Melbourne.

He broke early and from then on it was only a matter of time before Djokovic would be lifting yet another trophy. 

And so it was as Djokovic went on to claim a thoroughly deserved 8th Australian Open.