(CNN) — The fantastic players depart data in their wake, depositing them like waves on a shoreline, leaving a significant-water mark for other folks to attain toward or wash away.
Initially it was Roger Federer, then it was Rafael Nadal, now it is Novak Djokovic who, with a 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 7-5 victory in the French Open final in opposition to Casper Ruud, set a new men’s document for the most grand slam titles with his 23rd win.
And, last but not least, following several years of the file going among the “Big 3,” it could now settle with Djokovic. His dominance in grand slams displays no indicator of waning while Federer retired final yr and Nadal will retire at the conclusion of future calendar year with accidents avoiding him from competing at this year’s French Open.
In spite of Ruud breaking him in his 1st support recreation of the match, Djokovic generally seemed in regulate, significantly just after winning a finely poised, grueling opening established that lasted nearly 90 minutes.
And two sets later on, surrounded by other wonderful athletes – Tom Brady, Kylian Mbappé and Zlatan Ibrahimović were being all in the crowd – Djokovic confirmed his standing as the most thriving men’s tennis participant of all time.
Novak Djokovic 1st dealt with the crowd in French, wearing a customized hoodie with “23” embroidered on his chest, just before speaking in English to tell Ruud he was “one of the greatest personalities on the tour.”
He included: “My team, my household, my children, my mothers and fathers, every person is below, my two brothers aren’t here but I love them extremely a great deal. You know what we have been through, the trials and tribulations every single day.
“I know I can be a nightmare. I want to thank you initial of all for tolerance and tolerance and that stands out. I was definitely torturing you so I recognize you currently being my rock, and my assistance and definitely believing in me.”
The greatest
Djokovic has crept gradually into the all-time wonderful discussion, his to start with grand slam wins punctuating fifty percent a ten years of Nadal and Federer’s dominance when he was seemingly destined to be the odd one out, the just one unlucky to belong to the same era as them.
But, gradually and undoubtedly, as their powers waned and injuries took root, Djokovic emerged as the dominant participant on tour – his exercise, his return of provide and his means to make his opponent engage in just just one a lot more shot rendering him just about unbeatable.
“Many congrats on this incredible accomplishment,” Nadal tweeted just after the match. “23 is a amount that just a handful of several years again was unattainable to consider about, and you designed it! Get pleasure from it with your relatives and workforce!”
Exactly where Federer and Nadal are outlined by each other, their rivalry and friendship intertwined, Djokovic occupies a place on his very own, revered but probably not cherished in very the same way as the other two members of the “Big 3.”
His occupation has not been without having controversy. Arguably, he could have gained 23 grand slams presently experienced it not been for his decision to continue to be unvaccinated in opposition to Covid-19. As a final result, he was deported from Australia just before the Australian Open up in 2022, and skipped the US Open that exact same yr, because of to the countries’ necessities for travelers to be vaccinated against the virus.
It is not just the grand slam records that he now holds. He has used 387 weeks as the world No.1, surpassing Steffi Graff in February to established yet another report. Victory at this year’s French Open up moves him back to his familiar location of world No.1. Federer, meanwhile, retains the men’s file for the most consecutive weeks, 237, expended atop the rankings.
Each individual of the “Big Three” has grow to be involved with a unique surface throughout their professions – Federer with grass and Wimbledon, Nadal with clay and Roland Garros, Djokovic with the difficult courts of the US Open and Australian Open.
But, by profitable on Sunday, Djokovic verified his dominance on every single area, becoming the to start with male participant to earn every single grand slam at least three times. Victory also can take Djokovic halfway to the “Calendar Slam,” winning all four key tournaments in a year, the one achievement that has so far eluded him, Federer and Nadal. He also grew to become the oldest at any time French Open champion.
An spectacular start out by Ruud
For all the pre-match talk about Djokovic, it was Ruud who started off impressively, rattling off a company hold to appreciate, breaking Djokovic at the 3rd prospect in the Serb’s 1st provider activity, and racing to a 3- guide.
But Djokovic exhibited the features that have carried him to the very best of the activity, breaking back again right after a 28-shot rally and then holding, despite conceding a split point, to stage the scores at 4-4.
Although momentum appeared to shift, Ruud clung on – bringing the raucous group to their feet with a concerning-the- legs shot that inevitably received the point – and the 1st set remained finely poised, all the way to a tiebreak.
As the strain ratcheted up in the tiebreak, so much too did Djokovic’s recreation. Ruud did nothing completely wrong, he barely built any glitches but Djokovic’s groundstrokes seemed somewhat far more strong, his motion a bit sharper, and he did not make a solitary unforced mistake as he romped to a 7-1 gain to take the established, following an hour and 21 minutes.
Right after coming so close to landing a blow all through the prolonged opening set, Ruud seemed deflated when he walked back again on to court docket and shed the opening 3 video games.
All the power dissipated from the crowd also, as if they had been also accepting the unavoidable, that Djokovic was just much too great for anybody to problem him.
And soon afterwards, Djokovic took a two-established direct, profitable the set with a backhand winner down the line with Ruud marooned on the other facet of the court docket.
Ruud nonetheless refused to yield, nevertheless, conserving a break stage early in the third set and engineering a promising -30 posture with Djokovic serving and trailing 3-4, but there was very little he could do in the experience of his opponent’s 22 winners in the final set.
Djokovic finally broke Ruud late in the 3rd established to acquire a 6-5 guide and held on to full a popular victory as he fell to the ground, celebrating a document-breaking working day.
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