Tennis/Roland Garros 2023: Novak Djokovic wins the final by beating Casper Ruud

Novak Djokovic has done it! On the clay court at Porte d’Auteuil, the Serb beat Norway’s Casper Ruud 7-6, 6-3, 7-5. The world number 3 has now won his third French Open. After 2022, Casper Ruud loses his second consecutive final at the French Open.

With his third French Open title (2016, 2021, 2023), Djokovic sets a new record in the men’s game, moving clear at the top of the major winners list, one ahead of Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic tied the record of Serena Williams for the most Grand Slam tennis titles won in the Open Era (since 1968). His 23 Grand Slam comes 15 years after winning his first at the Australian Open in 2008.

The Serber became the first man to win each of the four Grand Slam tournaments at least three times – Australian Open (10), French Open (3), Wimbledon (7), and US Open (3). He also holds an Olympic bronze medal from Beijing 2008. The Paris 2024 Olympics will take place on the same Roland-Garros courts as the French Open.

Playing in his seventh French Open final, Djokovic stepped onto the clay court on the cusp of winning a third Roland-Garros title and a record-setting 23rd men’s Grand Slam crown.

Novak Djokovic: Tiebreak king

Djokovic’s tenacious temperament was on full display, winning a bruising 81-minute opening set. While Ruud dictated the opening salvos taking a 4-1 lead, Djokovic clawed his way back to enforce the tiebreak.

Djokovic would have rubbed his hands with glee, knowing the tiebreak has been his bread and butter at this year’s tournament. The Serb has won all his tiebreaks during the tournament without making a single unforced error.

He kept that record intact to claim the first set with relative ease, giving him the shot in the arm he needed after a relatively slow start to the match.

With the wind at his back, Djokovic got into his usual rhythm and broke early for a 3-0 lead in the second set. Ruud put up some resistance, but Djokovic purred along to claim the second with a record 23rd Grand Slam within reach.

But Ruud refused to give Djokovic a free pass into the record books and held his serve until the Serbian stole his serve in the 11th game before holding his serve to clinch No 23.

Attention now turns to the grass court season with Wimbledon, the next Grand Slam of 2023, just weeks away staring on 3 July. Djokovic is clear favourite to add another Grand Slam to his collection there. Two-time Olympic gold medallist Andy Murray of Great Britain began his warm-up for that event reaching the final of the Surbiton Trophy where he led Jurij Rodionov 6-3, 3-1 before play was suspended due to rain.