Novak Djokovic showcased his greatness once again by overcoming a challenging start to secure his 23rd Grand Slam title, setting a new men’s record at the French Open. In the final, Djokovic, 36, initially struggled to find his rhythm but established a solid foundation with a first-set tie-break victory of 7-6 (7-1), eventually winning the match 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, 7-5 against Norway’s Casper Ruud.
With this triumph, Djokovic surpasses Rafael Nadal to claim the most men’s major titles and becomes the first male player to win each of the four Grand Slam tournaments at least three times. Djokovic now shares the same number of Grand Slam titles as Serena Williams, with Margaret Court’s record of 24 majors still ahead of both players.
Rafael Nadal congratulated Djokovic on his remarkable achievement, acknowledging that the number 23 was once unimaginable. Djokovic now has an opportunity to equal Margaret Court’s record at Wimbledon next month, where he has already triumphed seven times and is likely to vie for Roger Federer’s record of 20 men’s titles.
Immediately after securing victory, Djokovic fell onto his back in celebration. He then embraced Ruud, proceeded to his support box, and celebrated with coach Goran Ivanisevic, wife Jelena, his two children, parents Dijana and Srdjan, and NFL superstar Tom Brady. The win will also propel Djokovic back to the top of the world rankings.
Ruud, the fourth seed who had previously lost in all three of his major finals, commended Djokovic on yet another record-breaking day. Addressing his opponent, Ruud said, “It is another day where you rewrite tennis history. It is tough to explain how great you are and what an inspiration you are.”
This victory fulfills Djokovic’s long-held ambition of surpassing the Grand Slam title count of his fellow legends, Nadal and Federer. Despite facing physical challenges in the lead-up to the French Open, Djokovic was considered the favorite. The absence of 14-time French Open champion Nadal due to injury further enhanced Djokovic’s prospects.
Though Djokovic appeared nervous in the early stages of the final, he steadily grew in confidence throughout the match. The star-studded audience, including French footballer Kylian Mbappe and British actor Hugh Grant, witnessed Djokovic’s experience and dominance in the game. He capitalized on crucial moments, winning the second set swiftly in just 48 minutes.
In the final set, Djokovic increased the pressure on Ruud, ultimately securing the victory with a 40-0 lead while serving for the title. Although Ruud pulled a forehand wide on the first championship point, Djokovic sealed his place in history on the next opportunity.
Ruud, disappointed yet determined, aimed to secure his first major title after previous losses to Nadal at Roland Garros and Carlos Alcaraz in New York. Reaching the consecutive French Open final was an important milestone for him, signifying that he is not a one-time contender.
