CNN
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Great players leave records in their wake, depositing them like waves on the shore, leaving a high-water mark for others to catch up to or be erased.
First it was Roger Federer, then it was Rafael Nadal, now it’s Novak Djokovic who, with a 7-6 (7-1) 6-3, 7-5 victory in the French Open final against Casper Ruud, set a new men’s record. for most Grand Slam titles with his 23rd win.
And finally, after record-breaking years moving between the “Big Three”, he could now settle for Djokovic. Their dominance at the Grand Slams shows no sign of abating, while Federer retired last year and Nadal will retire at the end of next year with injuries preventing him from competing at this year’s French Open.
Although Ruud broke him in his first service game of the match, Djokovic always looked in control, especially after winning a grueling and well-prepared first set that lasted 90 minutes.
And two sets later, surrounded by other great athletes – Tom Brady, Kylian Mbappé and Zlatan Ibrahimović were all in the crowd – Djokovic confirmed his status as the most successful male tennis player of all time.
He has slowly crept into the all-time greats debate, his first Grand Slam wins marking half a decade of Nadal and Federer’s dominance when he was seemingly destined to be the odd one out, the unlucky one to belong to the same era as them. .
But slowly and surely, as his powers waned and injuries took root, Djokovic emerged as the dominant player on the tour: his fitness, his return of serve and his ability to make his opponent he played just one more time, making him practically unbeatable.
“Many congratulations on this incredible achievement,” Nadal tweeted after the match. “23 is a number that just a few years ago was impossible to think about, and you’ve made it! Enjoy it with your family and team!”
Where Federer and Nadal are defined by each other, their rivalry and friendship intertwined, Djokovic occupies a space of his own, respected but perhaps not loved in the same way as the other two members of the “Big Three” .
His career has not been without controversy. Without a doubt, he could have already won 23 Grand Slams had it not been for his decision to remain unvaccinated against Covid-19. As a result, he was deported from Australia ahead of the 2022 Australian Open and missed the US Open that year, due to the countries’ requirements for travelers to be vaccinated against the virus.
It’s not just the Grand Slam records he now holds. She has spent 387 weeks as world No. 1, overtaking Steffi Graff in February to set another record. Victory at this year’s French Open moves him to his familiar spot of world No. 1. Federer, meanwhile, holds the men’s record for most consecutive weeks, 237, which he spent at the top of the ranking.
Each of the “Big Three” has been associated with a different surface during his career: Federer with grass and Wimbledon, Nadal with clay and Roland Garros, Djokovic with the hard courts of the US Open and the Open d ‘Australia.
But by winning on Sunday, Djokovic confirmed his dominance on all surfaces, becoming the first men’s player to win every Grand Slam at least three times. The victory also takes Djokovic halfway to the “Calendar Slam”, winning all four majors in one year, the only achievement that has so far eluded him, Federer and Nadal.
More to follow…
