He did it. By winning the Roland-Garros tournament in the final on Sunday, Novak Djokovic became the male player with the most Grand Slam titles. Crowned with 23 trophies in this category, he surpasses Rafael Nadal (22) and Roger Federer (20) and equals the record of Serena Williams.
“It’s a big deal for me to win my 23rd Grand Slam title here because it was the hardest tournament for me to win, so I’m overwhelmed with emotions,” Djokovic said as he received the trophy. hands of Yannick Noah, winner forty years ago.
“I am very happy to share with you this very special moment for me”, he launched to the public who supported him as rarely, hoping to see this page of tennis history being written before his eyes. . Among the spectators, the triple winner Gustavo Kuerten, the football stars Kylian Mbappe and Zlatan Ibrahimovic or even the former quarterback Tom Brady.
Facing Djokovic, 24-year-old Norwegian Casper Ruud, playing his third grand slam final, struggled hard in the first set before collapsing in the second. If the battle was tighter in the third set, he lost 7-6, 6-3, 7-5. He had managed to reach the final in Paris for the second year in a row, having eliminated Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals. In 2022, Ruud was outclassed in the final 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 by Nadal.
We could expect a one-sided match as Novak Djokovic had dominated his opponent in the past (four wins in as many games without ever losing a set). But it was the 4th in the world who started this final the best. Casper Ruud even broke the Serbian entry to lead 3-0. The world number two couldn’t find his rhythm as the Norwegian racked up the winning points.
At 4-2 in the set, the Belgrade native was gradually coming back, passing more first serves (79%) and being closer to his line. He managed to unbreak his opponent to pick up at 4-4 then the two players held their serve until 6-6. Before this final, the Serb had won his five decisive games played in the tournament, without committing any unforced errors. This one was no exception to the rule, 7-1 for the world number two in 1:23. Was the hardest part done?
Released, Djokovic quickly led 3-0 in the second set to win 6-3. With two sets to nothing, the task for Casper Ruud promised to be insurmountable. Only two players have succeeded in overcoming this handicap against the Serb in a grand slam: Jürgen Melzer (Roland Garros 2010) and Nikolay Davydenko (Davis Cup 2008, retirement). This third set was more like the first with a Norwegian who didn’t give up and stood up to the Serb. Both players held their service game solid until 4-3.
Led 0-30, Novak Djokovic returned to experience and mentality, despite a warning from the French match referee for overtime (4-4). The Serbian chose the game at 5-5 to break white his opponent. A final unforced error from the Norwegian gave the title to the Serb, 7-6, 6-2, 7-5 in 3:16 of play.
By winning on clay in Paris, Djokovic regained his place as world number one (for the 388th week, a record). He also becomes the only player in history to have won each of the four Grand Slam tournaments at least three times. He does not, however, equal the record in the history of tennis, held by Australian Margaret Court with 24 titles.
Many congrats on this amazing achievement @DjokerNole 23 is a number that just a few years back was imposible to think about, and you made it! Enjoy it with your family and team! ????
Rafael Nadal congratulated Novak Djokovic on his “incredible feat”, after the 23rd Grand Slam title, a record won by the Serb on Sunday at Roland-Garros, now one more than the Spaniard.
“Congratulations on this amazing achievement,” Nadal wrote on his Twitter account. “23 is a number that seemed impossible to achieve a few years ago, and you did it! “Added the Majorcan, who could not defend his chances this year in the Parisian tournament due to injury.
