Novak Djokovic created historical past on Monday morning (AEST) when he captured a record-breaking twenty third Grand Slam title with a 3rd French Open triumph, reinforcing his case to be topped the best participant of all time.
The 36-year-old Serb disregarded an early wobble to defeat Casper Ruud of Norway 7-6 (7/1) 6-3 7-5 and snap the tie of twenty-two Slams he shared with career-long rival Rafael Nadal.
Nadal was fast to acknowledge the second.
“Many congrats on this amazing achievement Novak,” he tweeted. “23 is a number that just a few years back was impossible to think about, and you made it! Enjoy it with your family and team!”
Victory for the third time in Paris, after 2016 and 2021, provides to Djokovic’s 10 Australian Open titles, seven at Wimbledon and three on the US Open.
Djokovic is the primary man to win all 4 majors at the least 3 times and is as soon as once more midway to the primary calendar Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969.
“Your skill and unwavering mental fortitude on all surfaces is astonishing,” tweeted Laver.
Only Margaret Court and Serena Williams in girls’s tennis have managed to rack up 23 Grand Slam titles. Court’s all-time mark of 24 will now be in his sights at Wimbledon subsequent month.
Everyone however Swedish nice Mats Wilander believes the controversy over tennis’ best participant is now over.
“Despite whatever anyone may still say, Novak Djokovic is now undoubtedly the greatest player of all time,” British tennis nice Tim Henman stated on Eurosport.
“Tough to make any numbers based argument against Djokovic being the best,” tweeted Andy Roddick. “If you’re making an argument against, it’s likely based on feelings and not record. Congrats on 23! Crazy to even think that’s possible.”
“Any statistical way you cut it, there has never been a tennis-playing dude better at playing tennis than this dude,” tweeted tennis scribe Ben Rothenberg.
“If there was a GOAT debate … it’s over,” added fellow tennis journalist Jose Morgado.
Even The Big Three, a Twitter account devoted to Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer, declared: “As it stands now, Djokovic is the greatest men’s player of all time.”
It was solely Wilander who believed some doubt remained.
“Does Novak winning 23 means he’s the GOAT? I suppose so. On the other hand, Nadal has won the Olympics,” Wilander stated.
“I would like to see Novak get to 24, 25 or 26, so there would be no discussion. To say that anyone is greater than Roger Federer is kind of tough.”
There is little signal of Djokovic slowing down – and his victory prompted present participant Tennys Sandgren to foretell he’s “got five more in him to be honest”.
He is now the oldest French Open champion however 11 of his Slam trophies have been gained after he turned 30.
Today he’ll reclaim the world quantity rating and begin his 388th week in prime spot.
The sense of the event definitely attracted sports activities A-listers. NFL legend Tom Brady watched from the Djokovic field, soccer stars Kylian Mbappe and Zlatan Ibrahimovic sat side-by-side within the VIP space which additionally accommodated former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, a daily this weekend.
Djokovic was enjoying in his seventh French Open remaining and boasted a 4-0 profession document over Ruud, not having misplaced a single set.
However, the fourth-ranked Norwegian was the extra composed of the 2 firstly, sprinting out of the blocks for a 2-0 lead when Djokovic shanked an overhead.
Ruud, the 2022 runner-up to Nadal, stretched to 3-0 and 4-1 earlier than Djokovic retrieved the break within the seventh sport when his opponent buried a simple smash into the web with an open courtroom begging.
It got here on the finish of a lung-busting 28-shot rally.
Djokovic missed a break level within the ninth sport, tumbling to the purple clay as he chased down a Ruud drive.
His frustration boiled over when he angrily accused umpire Damien Dumusois of dashing the gamers between changeovers on a heavy, humid afternoon within the French capital.
Fired up, he then raced via the tie-break, sealing the opener with a operating forehand.
Tellingly, that was Djokovic’s sixth tie-break at this French Open and in none of them had he dedicated a single unforced error within the 55 factors contested.
Despite being Djokovic’s junior by 12 years, Ruud, who additionally misplaced the 2022 US Open remaining to Carlos Alcaraz, all of a sudden seemed spent.
Djokovic broke for 2-0 within the second set and regardless of Ruud saving two set factors within the eighth sport, the Serb moved nearer to his dream.
Ruud saved a break level within the third sport of the third set earlier than Djokovic was hit with a warning for taking too lengthy between factors.
But he wasn’t thrown out of his stride.
Djokovic broke for love at 6-5 and sealed his place in historical past when Ruud went extensive after three hours and 13 minutes.
The champion saluted his field the place coach Goran Ivanisevic and spouse Jelena sat. “I know I can be a nightmare,” stated Djokovic. “I want to thank you first of all for patience and tolerance and that stands out. I was really torturing you so I appreciate you being my rock, and my support and really believing in me.”
A document haul
Australian Open (10) — 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023
French Open (3) — 2016, 2021, 2023
Wimbledon (7) — 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
US Open (3) — 2011, 2015, 2018
– with AFP
Source: www.news.com.au
