Image: APA/AFP/JULIEN DE ROSA
Novak Djokovic wrote tennis history. The 36-year-old Serb surpassed his long-term Mallorcan rivals where clay court king Rafael Nadal is usually in his element. The man from Belgrade was crowned champion of the French Open in Paris for the third time with a 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-5 triumph over Norwegian Casper Ruud, securing his 23rd Grand Slam title. Title.
This makes Djokovic the sole number one in the all-time list of the best for men – followed by Nadal (22) and Roger Federer (20). Above all is Australia’s Margaret Court, who collected no fewer than 24 trophies in major tournaments between 1960 and 1973. It’s not all over yet. Anyone who knows the ambitious Djokovic, who will replace Carlos Alcaraz (Esp) as world number one on Monday, knows that he will go into attack mode again in Wimbledon (July 3rd to 16th). The family man has already triumphed seven times in the London district – most recently in 2022.
Djokovic had to fight really hard in the first set in his seventh final at the French Open, but the bigger class then prevailed 7-1 in a one-sided tie-break. The favorite took the momentum into the second set, where the veteran kept the upper hand with 6:3. The 24-year-old Ruud did not give up and delivered a self-sacrificing fight in the third set. With a 4: 3 lead and 30: 0, Ruud smelled a break, but Djokovic still pulled his head out of the noose and used his first break ball to lead 6: 5 before serving coolly.
After 3:13 hours he was allowed to raise his hands in celebration in his 34th major final. Djokovic was able to make history for several reasons, he is now also the first player to have won all four majors – Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open – at least three times.
Source: Nachrichten
