Historic day in Paris?: Djokovic reaches for Grand Slam title number 23

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Novak Djokovic made good on his threat. At the age of 36, he had to become even more aware of his priorities: especially Grand Slam tournaments. He consciously accepts that other highlights of the year will suffer – as was the case recently in the clay-court season for Paris, which was more than good by his standards.

At Roland Garros, however, the Serb is back at working temperature. In the dream semi-final against the number one in the world, Carlos Alcaraz, he fends off the attack of the youth with excellent game tactics. And on the other hand: just with his aura – because his 16-year-old opponent can’t handle the nervousness and is completely tense in the truest sense of the word.

Will the Serbian rewrite tennis history?

Just like at the beginning of the year when Djokovic won the Australian Open, he is capable of unpacking whatever it takes to triumph. Biggest stage, biggest sport. And now the greatest of all tennis records awaits him. If he beats the Norwegian Casper Ruud (24) today on Philippe-Chatrier’s court, he will leave his rival Rafael Nadal (37) behind and he will be the only Grand Slam record winner: with 23 titles.

The history of this sport ‘always’ hangs over him, says Djokovic. Now he is overjoyed to be able to rewrite it this Sunday afternoon at the Porte d’Auteuil.

Ruud’s third attempt at the final

Alcaraz, whose power tennis was regularly undermined by Djokovic’s clever game variations, recently discovered what it means when he approaches a game with “extreme focus”. Now it is Ruud who wants to become dangerous for him. The man from the Oslo area is in the final for the third time in the last five Grand Slam tournaments. Last year he lost to Nadal at Roland Garros and then to Alcaraz at the US Open. Now he could not only finally get his first big win at the French Open, but also become a bummer in Djokovic’s historic mission.

Alexander Zverev (26), who lost to Ruud in three sets in the semifinals, thinks: “The pressure is clearly on Djokovic. This is the best possible starting position for Casper.”

2021 has not withstood the pressure

Djokovic, for his part, does not want to overestimate the threshold for a record title, saying: “I have constant pressure on my shoulders, this time it will be no different.” There’s no question that he’s shown strong nerve many times during his long, lavishly decorated career – it’s part of his recipe for success.

Yet he has already failed once when he tried to put a bold exclamation mark in the history books: in 2021, after victories in Melbourne, Paris and Wimbledon, he would have had the chance to create the first “Grand Slam” since Rod Laver in 1969; all four titles in the same year. But then Djokovic lost at the US Open in the final to Daniil Medvedev (27) in three sets 4:6, 4:6, 4:6.

This time Djokovic says: “Pressure is a privilege. And a source of motivation along with it.” Again, that sounds like a threat.

Source : Blick