Djokovic wins French Open for third time

Novak Djokovic dropped to the floor, unfold his arms and enjoyed the large cheers of the spectators. The Serbian superstar crowned himself the only report winner at the French Open together with his 23rd Grand Slam identify and over again wrote tennis records.

In a excessive-class very last on Sunday in Paris, the 36-12 months-vintage defeated the Norwegian challenger Casper Ruud in 3:thirteen hours 7:6 (7:1), 6:3, 7:5.

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With football icon Tom Brady and soccer greats like Kylian Mbappé as noble fans inside the stands, he triumphed for the 0.33 time in his 7th very last at the classic clay court docket.

Djokovic left the Spaniard Rafael Nadal at the back of in the rating of the Grand Slam titles. In the women’s category, most effective Margaret Court (24) from Australia has won one of the 4 main tournaments extra frequently.

The reality that Djokovic changed into handling history became proven through the profession of his box within the stands. Wearing sun shades, Brady sat next to Djokovic’s wife Jelena. The forty five-yr-vintage’s popularity as the quality expert footballer in history is unchallenged. Djokovic also wants to claim this title in tennis in advance of Nadal and Roger Federer.

World champion Kilian Mbappé had Zlatan Ibrahimovic within the honorary stand, France’s tennis favored Yannick Noah, boxing legend Mike Tyson and actor Hugh Grant rounded off the gang of stars.

The guests of honor to begin with noticed a gripping duel. The 24-yr-vintage Ruud ended Alexander Zverev’s dream of his first Grand Slam title with a clear victory in the semifinals. But now Djokovic fought returned after a tough begin and proved his more elegance and nerves of metal in the tie-destroy of the first set.

After that, he performed out the enjoy in his thirty fourth Grand Slam final. Djokovic is now additionally the oldest winner in French Open records, ahead of 14-time Paris champion Nadal, who become absent this yr via injury.

Record holder Djokovic

With his 23rd triumph, Djokovic holds the sole record in men’s tennis. The American Serena Williams has also won 23 women’s Grand Slams – one much less than Margaret Court from Australia.

Djokovic is the oldest winner in the long records of the French Open, changing Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who become additionally 36 in his 14th Paris win remaining yr.

Djokovic is the primary guy to have received every Grand Slam event (Australian Open, Wimbledon, US Open, French Open) 3 times.

With the victory in Paris, Djokovic regained number one inside the world ratings from Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. That way the 388th week as a leader – he already has that document anyway.

From Monday he's going to also take over the pinnacle of the world ratings from Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, whom he had worn down in the semifinals. It’s his 388th week as a pacesetter – of route that is additionally a document.

Ruud, alternatively, stays unfinished in the meanwhile. The global wide variety four also misplaced his 0.33 Grand Slam final and is still looking forward to the primary important identify of his career.

Under a cloudy sky in Paris, the folding roof over the Court Philippe-Chatrier opened once more after the hole display – the spectators greeted Djokovic with loud “Nole, Nole” calls. The huge outsider turned into to start with unimpressed through the goose bumps ecosystem.

Last 12 months, Ruud changed into quickly proven in Nadal’s final. Now the Norwegian posed problems for his opponent with a strong recreation at the start. An overhead ball from Djokovic sailed out for the first destroy, only after 25 minutes did he make it 1: 3.

As towards Alcaraz, Djokovic stayed cool. The ball went backward and forward 28 times at the Serb’s wreck point, Ruud also showed nerves for the first time and positioned the smash into the internet to make it 4: 3 from his factor of view.

For the first time, the spectators inside the stands nearly stood up with pleasure, and Brady jumped up too. When Djokovic complained to the referee a touch later that he changed into saying the score too early and thus reducing the ruin while converting aspects, the spectators booed passionately. Not the first time in this tournament.

“I don’t care,” stated the argumentative Djokovic earlier than the very last about the habitual whistles. “It’s not the primary time, and it probably gained’t be the last. I simply maintain prevailing.” The friction appears to incite Djokovic.

In the decisive section of the first sentence, the focus become there. The Serb played higher and better, additionally triumphing the 6th tie-damage of the tournament for the 6th time with out a mild error and celebrating after 81 minutes. Ruud wobbled, Djokovic mercilessly exploited the weakness.

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After the ruin to make it 2-0, he stored tapping his brow – a clear signal: Djokovic has the intellectual gain. He confidently didn’t permit a breakball anymore and additionally were given the second one set. Ruud stored the third round open for a long term, however Djokovic coldly took the serve from him to make it 6: five.

Only a bit later, the Serb should be capable of rejoice the tremendous triumph. For the Norwegian Ruud, it become already the third Grand Slam very last. However, the 24-yr-antique remains missing a large identify. Last yr he lost to Nadal in Paris and his compatriot Alcaraz at the US Open. (dpa)