Novak Djokovic beats Casper Rudd to win 3rd French Open, overtakes Rafael Nadal to clinch record 23rd Grand Slam title

Perhaps the script was meant to play out this way for Novak Djokovic. Perhaps those dramatic Major misses from defaults, detentions and debars pointed towards a more poetic history at the unlikeliest of stages.

In a Grand Slam that has been more his foe than friend and his greatest rival’s fiefdom, Djokovic grabbed the sole bragging rights in the all-time men’s singles Slam list and—statistically so at least—in the ever-fluctuating GOAT (greatest of all time) talk around the most celebrated era of men’s tennis.

By winning his 23rd Slam title at the French Open beating Norwegian world No. 4 Casper Ruud 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-5 in the final on Sunday, Djokovic broke away from Rafael Nadal in the men’s pecking order. Joining Serena Williams on the most Slam count by any player in the Open Era, he also became the first man to win all the Majors at least thrice.

“I'm going to start in French. At least I’m going to try,” the Serb, beginning his on-court speech in French wearing a jacket where the number 23 shone bright, said. “It's not a coincidence that I’ve won the 23rd title in Paris, because this tournament is very much the hardest tournament for me to win. It has been for all my career.”

That the 36-year-old's red-letter record came on the red dirt of Roland Garros with the 14-time defending champion Nadal, increasingly wounded and close to the finish line, away is symbolic. More so given the Spaniard had, on the Serb’s turf at the 2022 Australian Open, surpassed him at No. 21 with the unvaccinated and deported Djokovic away.

Away the new world No. 1 has been quite a bit over the last three years for reasons beyond the sport, making his catching up and gunning down of the markers by Roger Federer (20 Slams) and Nadal even more remarkable. Take out the 2020 US Open fourth-round exit on a default and the 2022 Australian Open and US Open absence over his vaccination status, and Djokovic has gone all the way in all but two Slams in that period.

Indeed, it’s hard to see who can stop him from doing so in the remaining couple this season. Carlos Alcaraz, the fast-growing numero uno challenger, dared to in the Paris semi-final before being dragged down by a nervy mind and cramping body. The grass isn’t any greener for the young Spaniard, while the seasoned Serb is a four-time reigning Wimbledon champion. Fancy a Djokovic Calendar Slam in New York?

Chasing that Calendar Slam two years ago, incidentally, was the only time Djokovic has been beaten by anyone not named Nadal in the last three years in a Major.

Ruud was out to emulate Daniil Medvedev’s 2021 US Open final heroics on Sunday and after a fighting onset that still couldn't offset Djokovic’s ability to elevate his floundering level when it matters, fast faded.

It wasn't that Ruud, a 24-year-old three-time Grand Slam finalist who was one among the last two men standing at last year’s Roland Garros too, would feel daunted walking into Court Philippe-Chatrier. On the contrary, and unlike the last time with Nadal when he seemed out of place in a 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 thrashing, he began with a set he would’ve probably had in the bag against anyone but Djokovic.

The man turning up for his 34th Grand Slam final came out searching for rhythm in his strokes from the baseline. A high error count was rounded off by a poor overhead from Djokovic to hand the solid-looking Ruud the break in the second game. But as Djokovic started to serve stronger and find his range from the back of the court, Ruud lost his zing. A fluffed overhead into the net from Ruud this time on the back of a 28-shot rallying call from Djokovic got him the break back in the seventh game.

Ruud, with his blistering forehands complemented by audacious drops, lobs and tweeners, continued to ask questions of the Serb’s serve. An exasperated-looking Djokovic continued to find the answers; a fine volley facing break point for a key 4-4 hold, for instance.

Tumbling, mumbling and appearing exhausted, he forced a tiebreaker. Djokovic and tiebreakers are a tie soaked in greatness. Coming into the final he had won all five of them this tournament, losing a meagre 12 points. A cracking forehand winner on the run from Djokovic, therefore, kicked it off. Ruud’s refusal to move ahead despite having his man on the mat behind the baseline and subsequent wild errors from him undid the 90-minute set’s work. This tiebreaker, keeping the trend, had Djokovic drop one point and Ruud’s shoulders with it.

Djokovic held to love and broke early in the second set, upping his level during a phase in which he pocketed 20 of the 25 points. With Ruud unable to challenge the Djokovic serve like in the opening set, Djokovic completed the tidy set with a hold to love.

Djokovic squandered a break chance in the third game of the third set and wriggled out of a 0-30 hole in the eighth game after a lucky net chord. The break eventually came at 5-5 off a couple of Ruud errors and a forehand and backhand crosscourt winner each from the Djokovic racquet. Minutes later he lay flat on his back on the red clay for seconds together, having done what no man had ever before in tennis history

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