Djokovic wins his third Roland Garros and surpasses Nadal in 'big'

The Serbian defeats Casper Ruud in three sets and signs a historic moment in Paris with his 23rd 'Grand Slam'

The Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic won (7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-5) the Norwegian Casper Ruud this Sunday to conquer Roland Garros for the third time, in a career that becomes historic with his 23rd 'Grand Slam ', one more than the Spanish Rafa Nadal.

'Nole' maintained a high level to win the title on the fast track, despite starting by losing his serve in the first set. Ruud, in his third final of a 'big' and second in a row in Paris, could not debut either but sold his skin dearly until he gave in to the new number one in the world.

Djokovic, champion of Australia in January, again unseats the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, whom he eliminated in the semifinals, at the top of the ranking and signs his assault on Olympus in 2023. The man from Belgrade leaves Nadal behind, absent due to injury, in the career of the 'Grand Slam' that he has historically maintained with the Spaniard (22) and with the Swiss Roger Federer (20).

'Nole' rules for the first time in the 'Big Three', also stretching his historical record of weeks at number one, and he celebrated it lying on the ground to gradually get the euphoria out of a path with all kinds of ups and downs, the last related to his non-vaccination against covid, with his deportation in Australia last year.

With a unique feat at stake this Sunday, the Serbian gained confidence by scoring a discreet first set and in the second he gave no option. Ruud held on in the third, but the concentration of his prestigious rival did not drop. Djokovic tied his victory with the authority of an era, with three titles already in each of the 'Grand Slams'.

Despite the fact that he arrived at the French Open with doubts about a bad adaptation to the clay tour, the Serb managed to bring out his best version, which is difficult for him to find a rival. Without Nadal, the king of the land and of Paris with 14 titles, 'Nole' rose to the throne despite starting with a bad first set.

The number one contender more than fixed it, that first 'break' and a walk through the net that he resolved in sudden death. In the second, he already broke 'Nole' first, without finding a 'break' ball Ruud (6-3). The Norwegian wanted to die a kill and stayed on his feet until he lost serve to him in the eleventh game, as Philippe Chatrier set up for a historic moment in the sport.