Novak Djokovic has been quite open about this being his aim for years. what motivated him. what motivated him. Djokovic's major goal was to win the greatest trophies on the largest platforms in his sport, and now that he has accomplished that, he stands alone—ahead of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and every other guy to ever pick up a racket.
If Djokovic could wait this long to hold this record, he could undoubtedly wait the 30-45 minutes it needed for his swings to become more uniform in the French Open final. So, on Sunday, after a little bit of a rocky start in the heavy, muggy air and behind the ominous charcoal clouds, he asserted himself. Casper Ruud, the opponent at Court Philippe Chatrier, never had a chance after that.
With a 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-5 victory over Ruud, which was not in question for the whole of the match's 3 hours, 13 minutes, Djokovic won his men's-record 23rd Grand Slam singles title, breaking a tie with Nadal and moving three in front of the retiring Federer.
The 36-year-old Serbian Djokovic, who also won the French Open in 2016 and 2021, is the only person to have won at least three of each major tournament. He earned his maiden title in the Australian Open in 2008 and currently has a total of 10 medals from that tournament, seven from Wimbledon, and three from the United States. Open.
“A Grand Slam is a Grand Slam—four biggest tournaments that we have in the history of our sport, tennis. Every single player dreams of being on this stage and winning the trophy at least once in their career. I am beyond fortunate in my life to win, 23 times, Grand Slams,” Djokovic said, wearing a red jacket with that special number stitched on the chest. “It’s an incredible, incredible feeling.”
The fact that he is once more halfway to completing the calendar-year Grand Slam—winning all four majors in a single season—is also noteworthy. Rod Laver last accomplished this feat in 1969. When Djokovic won the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and advanced all the way to the U.S. Open championship final in 2021, he came very close to accomplishing that accomplishment. Before falling to Daniil Medvedev, open.
Djokovic will continue to pursue that goal at Wimbledon, which starts on the All England Club's grass on July 3.
He has won at 11 of the previous 20 Slams, an impressive streak made the more impressive by the fact that he missed two major tournaments during that time due to not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Prior to the Australian Open in January 2021, Djokovic was expelled from Australia, and he was denied permission to go to the United States. Open under a restriction that has now been removed.
“Another day, another record for you,” Ruud said, addressing Djokovic during the postmatch ceremony. “Another day you write tennis history. Just tough to explain how incredible it is and what an inspiration you are.”
By reaching 23, Djokovic not only breaks the record for men, but also ties Serena Williams, whose career came to an end last year, for the most wins in the Open era, which started in 1968. Some of Margaret Court's 24 Slam titles, a record, were earned during the amateur period.
Djokovic won the singles title at Roland Garros 20 days past his 36th birthday, making him the tournament's oldest singles champion. Red clay, which is slower underfoot than other surfaces like grass or hard courts, is what makes this major's lengthy, grinding matches so difficult.
Two days after he turned 36, Nadal's 22nd major tournament came in Paris last year. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on June 2 and has been out since January due to a hip issue.
As if all of that weren't enough, Djokovic's victory on Sunday ensures that he will replace Carlos Alcaraz at the top of the ATP rankings on Monday. Since the introduction of computerized tennis rankings a half-century ago, Djokovic has already spent more weeks at the top than any other player, male or female.
Alcaraz, a 20-year-old Spaniard, was defeated by Djokovic in the semifinal match on Thursday after the Serbian player wore him down over two exciting sets and caused severe muscle cramping. Alcaraz persisted in playing, but the final two scores of the four-set match—6-1, 6-1—told the whole tale.
Ruud, a Norwegian 24-year-old who reached his third Slam final in the last five competitions, is currently 0-3. A year earlier, he was defeated by Nadal in the French Open and by Alcaraz at the U.S. Open. launched in September.
Djokovic, in his 34th major final, was the one who had a rocky beginning, maybe as a result of being conscious of everything that was at risk.
A half-ovation and courteous applause greeted Ruud's entrance. More people stood up when Djokovic arrived to a loud and deafening chanting of his two-syllable moniker, "No-le! No-le! No-le!Right before the performance started, same chorus started up again. It continued throughout the day, sometimes to praise his accomplishments and other times to support him.
The chants for his name were deafening as Djokovic rattled off 12 of the final 13 points to put an end to the match, collapsing on his back with his limbs splayed wide.
