Novak Djokovic has won the French Open for the third time in his career (Picture: Reuters)
Novak Djokovic’s win over Casper Ruud in the French Open final has seen him overtake Rafael Nadal for the most Grand Slam men’s singles titles in history.
Djokovic recorded a 7-6 6-3 7-5 victory to remarkably lift the 23rd major trophy of his career in Paris on Sunday and he will now regain the world No.1 ranking.
The 36-year-old has won Roland-Garros for the the third time and has become the first man in the Open Era to secure three titles at each of the four majors.
Djokovic also lifted the Australian Open in January and will now be targeting a calendar Grand Slam if he can emerge victorious at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Ruud went into the third Grand Slam final of his career needing a miracle – after losing the previous two, including last year’s Roland-Garros final to Nadal – and was a heavy underdog having lost all four of his previous meetings with Djokovic.
The 24-year-old enjoyed a strong start with a service hold to love in only two minutes in front of a star-studded Philippe-Chatrier crowd – including footballer Kylian Mbappe and NFL star Tom Brady – and the second game of the first set turned into a long battle as Ruud went 2-0 up after converting a third break point.
Ruud held to take a 3-0 lead but Djokovic started to come to life, storming through a service game with a hold to love – and after the duo exchanged service games – the Serbian registered his first break of the match as Ruud fired into the net after a thrilling 28-shot rally, following a string of errors from the Norwegian.
Another break point fell for Ruud but he couldn’t convert it as Djokovic levelled it up at 4-4 and it could have got worse for him had he not saved break point in his subsequent service game. Both players held and Djokovic then lashed out at the chair umpire for starting the clock too early at the change of ends.
That appeared to fire Djokovic up and he comfortably held to force a tie-break, where he raced into a 3-0 lead after playing some of his best tennis, winning the first-set 7-6 (7-1). The duo left the court for what felt like an eternity and there was a clear dip in Ruud’s game as Djokovic cruised into a 3-0 second-set lead.
Ruud started to battle back but couldn’t register a break as Djokovic went 5-2 up, roaring ‘Come on!’ as his opponent sliced a tame backhand into the net – and despite missing set points on Ruud’s serve – Djokovic got the job done in his next service game to win the second set 6-3 and edge towards his third title in Paris.
Djokovic looked in firm control in the early stages of the third set but Ruud saved a break point and there appeared to be a mini shift as the world No.4 started to mix up his game with more slice backhands, coming forward more and hitting some impressive volleys as neither player were able to break the other.
Formula One drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon were watching the final but Ruud was heading for a white flag rather than a chequered one after Djokovic got the crucial third-set break to take a 6-5 lead, giving him the opportunity to serve for the match.
Djokovic came out on top to win the third set 7-5 and wrap up the victory, becoming the oldest ever French Open men’s singles champion.
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Djokovic wins his third French Open trophy!
