Novak Djokovic has overcome illness, a mid-match meltdown and an inspired Dominic Thiem to claim a record-extending eighth Australian Open crown.

In a titanic battle laced with controversy and drama, Djokovic overturned a two-sets-to-one deficit for first time in a grand slam final to deny Thiem a maiden major with a 6-4 4-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 victory on Sunday night.

Djokovic is the first man in the 52-year open era to win grand slam titles in three different decades, and just the second in history after Ken Rosewall snared majors in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.