Novak Djokovic, Roland Garros champion and record holder of records: from being looked at with suspicion in the Big 3 to closing the discussion

PARIS (Special envoy).- With the behavior of a hungry lion, the patience of a goldsmith and the coldness of a surgeon. With the positive mind of one who is known to be of a superior race. With strategic lucidity. Understanding that the road could be long-winded and that, in this game, anyway, he is the king of the jungle. Instructed in the thorniest challenges of the most golden times of the world of rackets. Without mercy to the less expert. Insatiable.

Novak Djokovicthe Serbian who was observed out of the corner of his eye for years in the assembly of the magical Big 3 which he raised together with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, he took over the record of records. He won an argument that is unlikely to be reopened. Standing up while others fall is also a merit. At 36, with the Swiss officially retired last September, and with the Spaniard traumatized by injuries that would not allow him to play, at least until the end of the season, Nole watches them from the top. He won, at Roland Garros, the 23rd Grand Slam title, one more than Rafa, three above Roger. It seems that it is already a KO blow to the tennis history books.

Djokovic began to star in the consecration movie of his life since before the French Open, disguised as a little lamb, looking without looking, when he stated that Carlos Alcaraz (the first seed) was the favorite for the title and he, however, barely a champion of …, 22 grand. He wanted to get rid of peripheral pressure; in reality, he charged it to another. Master in the psychological game (in this area he came to subdue Nadal, no less, when he beat him in seven consecutive finals in 2011/2012), he grew little by little in the tournament, with less fireworks than the Murcian, but sustaining the power of impact.

The promoted semifinals arrived with Alcaraz and he collapsed tennis and spiritually. Carlitos was overwhelmed by the “tension”, he confessed and lost. He did not take a big step towards the goal. But he was missing the last link in the chain, before Norwegian Casper Ruud, number 4 in the ranking, very skilled on clay and a finalist in three of the last five major finals (Roland Garros 2022 and 2023, US Open 2022). At first, Novak had a hard time dealing with the demons, but he eventually drove them out (or sided with him). He beat the Nordic 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 and 7-5, in three hours and thirteen minutes. After the last point he collapsed on the brick dust, face up and with a genuine smile, with the harmony of the objective (dream) fulfilled.

When Djokovic won his first Grand Slam, at the 2008 Australian Open, aged 20, Federer had twelve major trophies and Nadal three. Today, fifteen seasons later, the Balkan holds more trophies than all and also stands as the only tennis player (man) to win each trophy majorAt least three times: ten in Melbourne, three in Paris, seven at Wimbledon and three at the US Open. The 23 big rings equal it, in the general record, with Serena Williams, being only one success behind the Australian Margaret Court, the most successful (24, although in other times).

“I was a seven-year-old boy who dreamed of winning Wimbledon and going pro. I had the power to create my own destiny and I got it. I hope I can inspire the younger generations. I tell them to live in the present, to forget the past, but if they want a better future they must create it”, was the message from Djokovic, who grew up in Belgrade in the former Yugoslavia under bombardments by NATO forces, upon receiving the Cup of the Musketeers by Yannick Noah, the last French champion at the Philippe-Chatrier, and also cheered, among other figures such as Kylian Mbappé, Mike Tyson, Tom Brady and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Ruud, two-time ATP champion in Buenos Aires, is one of the references on the circuit regarding clay court in the last three years. Even from 2020 to the present he has more successes than all on slow surface (87; 19 more than the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas). This is how it was presented in the last Parisian chapter, in a Philippe-Chatrier stadium with leaden skies and sticky weather. It is also true that he arrived with the statistics against him: without having won a set in the four previous matches. Beyond that, his strategy was clear and intelligent: play high and parable so that Nole doesn’t hit comfortably.

During several games he managed to carry out the tactics and broke the Serb’s serve, barely, in the second game. In the first games a version was observed light of Djokovic, without spark. But Novak, old fox, began to settle down and, opportunely, recovered the break in the seventh game. If the mind is the most valuable “muscle” in tennis, Nole is Einstein with a racket. They reached the tie-break and he, who had played six “playoffs” during this Roland Garros, winning them all, did it again, with authority. It was an emotional blow from which Ruud, despite some good intentions in the third set, could not recover.

“Novak is not human sometimes”Ruud lamented. Superb in his interpretation of the game. Elastic. Dominant. Raising and lowering the height of his shots when the tone of the game needs it. Mortifying with his laser beam backhand (cross or parallel). Demanding with the angles of him. With hurtful drop shots. Imposing respect with the aura that was earned. Being aware of what he represents in the opposites. Thus, once again, Djokovic wrote a masterpiece in his seventh final at the Bois de Boulogne, where he had consecrated himself in 2016 and 2021.

At 36 years and 20 days, the player coached by Croatian Goran Ivanisevic became the oldest player to win the Roland Garros trophy, surpassing Nadal, who last season had done so at 36 years and two days. “23 was an impossible number to imagine a few years ago, and you did it! Enjoy it with your family and team!”, wrote the Mallorcan on social networks.

Djokovic will return to number one in the ranking, extending his record at the top of the ATP Tour to 388 weeks (Federer, with 310, is second on the record); and he could hit 400 in September. With his success in the French capital, he added his 94th title. Last year he did not play the Australian Open, where he is intimidating at the Rod Laver Arena, due to his refusal to get vaccinated against Covid-19, the same reason he could not play, last September, in Flushing Meadows.

Would he have reached the record earlier? Probably yes. But it is not worth repairing it or speculating. The truth is that he is healthy and is going for more. His fate is incalculable. He continues to mortify his rivals. The American Andy Roddick, former number one, already stated it: “Djokovic, first, he takes your legs. And then he takes your soul.”. Federer, for most, was the most elegant ambassador in the history of tennis. Nadal, the fiercest competitor of all time. But Djokovic outplayed them both. And in Paris he closed the discussion, signing the record of records, looking at everyone from the top.

Summary of the Roland Garros final