Novak Djokovic: The Greatest Tennis Player of All Time?
Novak Djokovic has done it again. The Serbian tennis superstar has won his 23rd Grand Slam title, breaking the record he shared with Rafael Nadal for the most major singles trophies in the history of men’s tennis. Djokovic’s victory over Casper Ruud in the French Open final has further strengthened his case to be crowned the greatest player of all time.
Djokovic’s Journey to the Top
Djokovic’s journey to the top of the tennis world began in 2008 when he won his first Slam trophy at the Australian Open. Since then, he has accumulated 10 titles at the Australian Open, seven at Wimbledon, and three at the US Open. He has also won three French Open titles, including this year’s victory over Ruud.
Djokovic is now the only man with at least three wins from each major event, and he is halfway to a calendar-year Grand Slam – winning all four majors in one season – something no man has achieved since Rod Laver in 1969. Djokovic came close to pulling off that feat in 2021, when he won the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon and made it all the way to the title match at the US Open before losing to Daniil Medvedev.
Djokovic’s Record-Breaking Victory
Djokovic’s record-breaking victory over Ruud in the French Open final was a hard-fought battle. The Norwegian was the more composed of the two at the start, sprinting out of the blocks for a 2-0 lead when Djokovic shanked an overhead. Ruud stretched to 3-0 and 4-1 before Djokovic retrieved the break in the seventh game when his opponent buried an easy smash into the net with an open court begging. It came at the end of a lung-busting 28-shot rally.
Djokovic missed a break point in the ninth game, tumbling to the red clay as he chased down a Ruud drive. His frustration boiled over when he angrily accused umpire Damien Dumusois of rushing the players between changeovers on a heavy, humid afternoon in the French capital. Fired up, he then raced through the tiebreak, sealing the opener with a running forehand.
Despite being Djokovic’s junior by 12 years, Ruud suddenly looked spent. Djokovic broke for 2-0 in the second set and despite Ruud saving two set points in the eighth game, the Serb moved closer to his dream. Ruud saved a break point in the third game of the third set before Djokovic was hit with a warning for taking too long between points. But he wasn’t thrown out of his stride. Djokovic broke for love at 6-5 and sealed his place in history when Ruud went wide.
Djokovic’s Legacy
Djokovic’s legacy in tennis is already secure. He has won more Grand Slam titles than any other man in history, and he is now the oldest French Open champion. On Monday, he will reclaim the world number one ranking and start his 388th week in the top spot.
Djokovic’s success has not come without controversy, however. He has been involved in several high-profile incidents on and off the court, including his disqualification from last year’s US Open for hitting a line judge with a ball. He has also been criticized for his anti-vaccination stance and his involvement in the ill-fated Adria Tour, which was linked to several cases of COVID-19.
Despite these controversies, Djokovic’s achievements on the court are undeniable. He has dominated men’s tennis for over a decade, and he shows no signs of slowing down. With his sights set on Margaret Court’s all-time mark of 24 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic is poised to continue his reign as the greatest player of all time.
Conclusion
Novak Djokovic’s victory over Casper Ruud in the French Open final has cemented his status as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. With 23 Grand Slam titles to his name, he has broken the record he shared with Rafael Nadal for the most major singles trophies in the history of men’s tennis. Djokovic’s journey to the top has been marked by controversy, but his achievements on the court are undeniable. As he sets his sights on Margaret Court’s all-time mark of 24 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic is poised to continue his reign as the greatest player of all time.