Novak Djokovic once again displayed his exceptional skills as he claimed his 23rd Grand Slam title, setting a new record in men's tennis, by defeating Norway's Casper Ruud in the French Open final.
Despite a slow start, Djokovic managed to establish his dominance with a convincing performance in the first-set tie-break, eventually winning the match 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, 7-5.
With this victory, the 36-year-old Serb surpasses Rafael Nadal's men's major titles and becomes the sole leader in this category. Additionally, Djokovic becomes the first male player to secure at least three victories in all four Grand Slam tournaments.
His triumph on the clay courts of Paris places him alongside Serena Williams in terms of Grand Slam titles, leaving only Margaret Court ahead with 24 majors.
Expressing his gratitude, Djokovic stated, "I consider myself beyond fortunate to have won 23 Grand Slams in my life; it is an incredible achievement." He also reflected on his childhood dreams of winning Wimbledon and becoming the world number one, emphasizing the power to shape one's own destiny and encouraging young individuals to pursue a better future.
Shortly after Djokovic's win, Nadal extended his congratulations to his longtime rival, acknowledging the Serbian's remarkable accomplishment.
In a message, the Spaniard wrote, "Many congratulations on this amazing achievement. The number 23 was unimaginable just a few years ago, and you made it possible."
Looking ahead, Djokovic now has the opportunity to match Margaret Court's record at Wimbledon next month, a tournament where he has previously triumphed seven times. He is also poised to equal Roger Federer's men's record of 20 Grand Slam titles.
As the final point was secured with Ruud's forehand error, Djokovic fell backward in celebration. He then embraced his opponent before rushing to his support box, where he shared the victory with his coach Goran Ivanisevic, wife Jelena, children, parents, and NFL star Tom Brady.
Furthermore, this triumph will see Djokovic reclaim the top spot in the world rankings.
Despite his defeat, fourth-seeded Ruud graciously acknowledged Djokovic's exceptional achievements, describing it as another historic day for tennis and expressing his admiration for the Serbian's greatness and inspiration.
For Djokovic, this victory was the culmination of his aspirations to surpass Nadal and Federer in major titles. After drawing level with the duo at 20 triumphs during Wimbledon 2021, Djokovic fell behind when he missed the 2022 Australian Open due to a controversy surrounding his Covid-19 vaccination status, which led to his deportation.
However, Djokovic regained his momentum and surged ahead by winning three of the last four Grand Slam tournaments. Even before Nadal's withdrawal from this year's French Open due to injury, Djokovic was widely regarded as the favorite, despite his own physical setbacks leading up to the tournament.
The final against Ruud saw Djokovic displaying signs of nervousness in the early stages. Facing a resilient Ruud, Djokovic struggled with unforced errors and found himself trailing 4-2 in the first set. However, as the set progressed, Djokovic's experience and composure began to shine through.
In a star-studded atmosphere with notable attendees such as Kylian Mbappe and Hugh Grant, Djokovic dominated the tie-break, leaving Ruud overwhelmed. From that point forward, it seemed inevitable that Djokovic would emerge as the victor.
Following a relatively swift 48-minute second set, the third set remained tense until Djokovic turned up the pressure at a crucial moment. With the score tied at 5-5, a powerful backhand winner put Ruud on the defensive, and Djokovic capitalized on the opportunity, eventually serving for the championship.
With a 40-0 lead, Djokovic secured his victory, although a slightly anticlimactic forehand error on the first championship point delayed the celebration momentarily. However, on the subsequent opportunity, Djokovic sealed his place in history once again.
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