2023-06-11 18:57:00
By winning his third Roland-Garros, this Sunday, June 11 against Casper Ruud (7-6, 6-3, 7-5) the Serb has become the player who has won the most Grand Slams in his career on the men’s circuit.
Friday evening, June 9, Novak Djokovic did not want to hear about history. The Serbian may have said at the start of the tournament that it was the hunt for the record and the desire to put his name even more on the tennis charts that pushed him, at 36 years old to continue, he carefully dodged after his victory against Alcaraz the questions about his heritage. For only answer, he gave an appointment to the journalists two days later: “After the final, if I win, we can talk about history.”
Sunday, June 11, the “Joker” responded to his own appointment. He swept the Norwegian Casper Ruud in three sets (7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-5) to afford his 23rd career Grand Slam. Unheard of on the men’s circuit, a record, quite simply. Novak Djokovic wiped Rafael Nadal off the shelves in the very tournament which is usually the Spaniard’s realm. “Congratulations on this incredible achievementwrote Nadal on his Twitter account. 23 is a number that seemed impossible to achieve a few years ago, and you did it!
Djokovic, who will become world number 1 again on Monday, has also become the first man to win each Major three times, Masters included. Records that he could have carried even further if, limited as he is, he had not refused to be vaccinated against the Covid, a decision which cost him a participation in the Australian and American Grand Slams the year last.
Tropical climate and stars in spades
At 3 p.m. sharp on a Philippe-Chatrier court in a tropical climate – we drip without even moving – the stars are gathered in packs of ten to see history being written before their eyes. In addition to the regulars of this kind of event – former players, bosses of the federation and Minister of Sports – there is enough in the stands to set up a football team: Giroud, Pavard, Veretout and Hernandez at the edge of the court, Mbappé and Ibrahimovic a few rows further. Or enough actors per square meter – Hugh Grant, Pierre Niney, Jean Dujardin, Clovis Cornillac, Roschdy Zem, Elsa Zylberstein – to shoot a blockbuster.
Assigned to a secondary role in the Djokovic tale, that of the kind and valiant adversary descended into the arena to be eaten alive, Casper Ruud arrives on the Central with the intention of making the host of stars regret their trip. No question of offering the Serb his 23rd Grand Slam on a plate. No question either of being swept away like against his idol Rafael Nadal last year, a final during which he was ghostly, winning only six short games.
From the start, Casper Ruud sets the tone. A shutout on his serve. Then an extension game on that of Djokovic. The Norwegian offers his classic recipe: topspin forehand balls, mixtures of slices, flat shots and large backhand bells, and in the end it is his opponent who is at fault. The Serb harvests – nine unforced errors in the first two games, as many as in the entire final won in 2019 at the Australian Open – and Ruud makes the break.
Never mind, Novak Djokovic plays the Norwegian’s game. He takes less risk, is patient, and taken from behind, Casper Ruud in turn multiplies the faults. Djoko picks up. After one hour and fifteen minutes of play, the round goes to the deciding game. In this kind of context, we know the music. When the game gets tense, hands are shaking and arms are heavy, the Serb is unstoppable. On this Roland, he played five tie-breaks. He won them all by achieving the feat of not making the slightest unforced error. The sixth is no exception to the rule: a clinical 7-1 sent to a very helpless Norwegian. The statistics stand out: Djokovic led a set to nil 233 times in Grand Slams. He has won his match 229 times. And has not lost in such a configuration since 2016.
The collapse
Great classic after having moved the best player in the world for almost an hour and a half, all that to find himself led a set to nothing: the collapse. Like his predecessors, Casper Ruud is no exception to the rule. Less dashing, psychologically affected, the Norwegian plays with his head down and loses his entry service in the second. If he holds his bet overall, he does not show himself to be a bit dangerous for a Novak Djokovic which is unfolding. 6-3 in the second. Among the spectators in the stands, we are already burying Casper Ruud. “Do you think he will manage to take at least one set?” “No, he collapsed. At 6:15 p.m., the match is folded.
If Casper Ruud does not take the water, the result gives them partly right. For ten games, the two players keep their service, even though the Norwegian, although pushed by the public, is much more jostled than the Serb when it is his turn to engage. And then, Djoko does Djoko. A white game made up of winners on Ruud’s bet. Before folding the case. 7-5, three sets to nothing, and 23 Grand Slams for Djokovic.
After having relished alone on his throne, the Serb will probably think about the aftermath. Win a 24th, to put a definitive distance from Rafael Nadal who, although constantly injured, has not yet definitively left his racquet in the locker room? Going for a 25th to overtake the Australian Margaret Court and definitively become the No. 1 of all time, men and women combined? Whatever goal he has in mind, Novak Djokovic knows that time is against him. “How long is this going to last? I don’t knowhe wondered in the middle of the tournament. But as long as I am able to push myself on a daily basis, I am ready to continue.
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