Djoker has the last laugh

A peculiar aspect of the Monaco resident’s game is it can fall off a cliff suddenly, even as he is seemingly on song.

Australian Open final: Djokovic, Thiem final going to 5

Djokovic is a seven-time champion at Melbourne Park, where he has never lost a final or semifinal he has contested

Djokovic will start his competitive preparation for the new season at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi from Dec. 19-21.

The championship will take place from January 3-12 in the lead-up to the year's first Grand Slam, the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Djokovic will start his campaign against Roberto Carballes Baena, while Federer will play Australian John Millman.

Djokovic heads the men's field with Spain's Rafael Nadal seeded second. In the women's draw, Osaka is ranked no 1 Serena Williams is no 8.

Djokovic was on a roll until Cincinnati, having won three titles, including two Grand Slams, on three different surfaces this year.

Medvedev's upset win on Saturday sent him into a title showdown with another unexpected finalist, 16th-seeded Belgian David Goffin.

It took Djokovic nearly an hour to prevail in the first set but he closed out a one-sided tiebreak with a deft backhand passing shot.

For Djokovic and Federer, back in action for the first time since the Serb's victory over the Swiss in the Wimbledon final.