Serbia's Novak Djokovic serves against Norway's Casper Ruud during their final match of the French ... [+]
Move over, Rafael Nadal.
Hello, Serena Williams.
Novak Djokovic solidified his GOAT status in men’s tennis and tied Serena with 23 Grand Slam singles titles after he defeated Casper Ruud, 7-6, 6-3, 7-5 for his third French Open crown. Only Margaret Court with 24 Grand Slam singles titles has more.
“I predict that record will last 50 years, no one’s gonna come close, sorry,” John McEnroe, winner of seven major titles, said on the NBC broadcast of Djokovic’s 23.
“Fifty years from now, it will be his name at the top still.”
Djokovic also re-claimed the world’s No. 1 ranking which he has held more weeks than anyone in history (387).
With Tom Brady holding his phone out on match point and seated next to Jelena Djokovic, Novak Djokovic moved one major ahead of Nadal, his longtime rival and the 14-time Roland Garros winner who recently underwent hip surgery and hopes to return for one more season in 2024. He has won each of the four majors at least three times.
Djokovic, who conquered world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals after Alcaraz suffered from cramps, is also halfway to the calendar Grand Slam after winning the Australian Open in January. He came within one match of that feat in 2021 before losing in the U.S. Open final to Daniil Medvedev in straight sets.
Djokovic has won 15 of his last 18 Grand Slam finals. He improved to 3-4 in Roland Garros finals, with three of those losses coming to Nadal.
It could be a huge couple of days for Serbia since Djokovic’s buddy Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets can win the NBA championship Monday night in Denver. Jokic is seeking his first title.
“Go Jokic, go Denver all the way,” Djokovic said after his second-round win over Marton Fucsovics in straight sets.
“I hope they win their first ring.”
BELGRADE, SERBIA - JUNE 11: Denver Nuggets basketball player Nikola Jokic (L) of Serbia and Novak ... [+]
Djokovic, the second-oldest French Open men’s finalist ever, won his record 23rd major with a small patch stuck to his chest powered by “nanotechnology,” which he claims is the secret to his success on the court.
The 36-year-old Serb has told reporters the patch uses “incredibly efficient nanotechnology” to help him deliver his best on the court and without it he “probably wouldn’t be sitting here.”
Ruud, the 24-year-old from Norway, fell to 0-5 against Djokovic and 0-8 against the “Big Three” of Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer. He was playing in his third major final after losing to Nadal in last year’s Roland Garros final and to Alcaraz in the U.S. Open final. He raced out to a 4-1 lead against Djokovic but was broken back and was then dominated in the tiebreak.
Djokovic began moving more swiftly and confidently to start the second set when he jetted out to a 3-0 lead.
In the third set, Djokovic broke Ruud at love with a crosscourt backhand winner for a 6-5 lead and then served for the match.
Norway's Casper Ruud plays a shot against Serbia's Novak Djokovic during their final match of the ... [+]
Next up for Djokovic will be Wimbledon next month where he will bid to tie Court with No. 24 and win the third leg of the calendar Grand Slam.
“I think he can win the calendar Grand Slam this year,” Mary Carillo said on NBC.
Moving forward, his main goal is to continue to rack up more major titles.
“I don’t think Djokovic is going anywhere,” Jim Courier said during the semifinals. “He’s got Tom Brady mentality. He still wants to be winning these things when he’s 40.”