Novak Djokovic turns 39 today, two days before the French Open begins.
The Serb was born 39 years ago, on May 22, 1987, in Belgrade.
Who will win this year’s French Open?
The second Slam of the year…
But who won the Roland Garros title the year he was born?
Ivan Lendl won the French Open the year Novak Djokovic was born
Czech tennis legend Ivan Lendl played 19 Grand Slam finals during his professional career.
Ivan Lendl’s record in Grand Slam finals (8-11)
| Grand Slam final | Opponent | Result | Score |
| 1981 French Open | Bjorn Borg | LOSS | 1-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, 1-6 |
| 1982 US Open | Jimmy Connors | LOSS | 3-6, 2-6, 6-4, 4-6 |
| 1983 US Open | Jimmy Connors | LOSS | 3-6, 7-6, 5-7, 0-6 |
| 1983 Australian Open | Mats Wilander | LOSS | 1-6, 4-6, 4-6 |
| 1984 French Open | John McEnroe | WIN | 3-6, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 7-5 |
| 1984 US Open | John McEnroe | LOSS | 3-6, 4-6, 1-6 |
| 1985 French Open | Mats Wilander | LOSS | 6-3, 4-6, 2-6, 2-6 |
| 1985 US Open | John McEnroe | WIN | 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 1986 French Open | Mikael Pernfors | WIN | 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 |
| 1986 Wimbledon | Boris Becker | LOSS | 4-6, 3-6, 5-7 |
| 1986 US Open | Miloslav Mecir | WIN | 6-4, 6-2, 6-0 |
| 1987 French Open | Mats Wilander | WIN | 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 |
| 1987 Wimbledon | Pat Cash | LOSS | 6-7, 2-6, 5-7 |
| 1987 US Open | Mats Wilander | WIN | 6-7, 6-0, 7-6, 6-4 |
| 1988 US Open | Mats Wilander | LOSS | 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 4-6 |
| 1989 Australian Open | Miloslav Mecir | WIN | 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 |
| 1989 US Open | Boris Becker | LOSS | 6-7, 6-1, 3-6, 6-7 |
| 1990 Australian Open | Stefan Edberg | WIN | 4-6, 7-6, 5-2 (RET) |
| 1991 Australian Open | Boris Becker | LOSS | 6-1, 4-6, 4-6, 4-6 |
He played his 12th at the 1987 French Open, against Sweden’s Mats Wilander.
Ivan Lendl’s route to the 1987 French Open title
- 1987 French Open 1R [WIN] vs Ronald Agenor, 7-5, 7-6, 0-6, 6-3
- 1987 French Open 2R [WIN] vs Jonathan Canter, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-2
- 1987 French Open 3R [WIN] vs Thierry Tulasne, 7-6, 6-2, 6-2
- 1987 French Open 4R [WIN] vs Joakim Nystrom, 2-6, 6-1, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2
- 1987 French Open QF [WIN] vs Andres Gomez, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, 6-1
- 1987 French Open SF [WIN] vs Miloslav Mecir, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6
- 1987 French Open F [WIN] vs Mats Wilander, 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6
After a rain delay, Lendl defeated Wilander in four sets to clinch his third and final French Open title.
Lendl’s win cemented him as one of the greatest clay-court players of his generation.
And his excellence didn’t stop when he played on grass or hard courts either.
His 1987 season was arguably the finest of his professional career.
Lendl won 24 of the 26 matches he played at Grand Slams, winning titles in Paris and New York.
He failed to complete the Calendar Grand Slam, though, losing in the semi-finals of the Australian Open and the final of Wimbledon.
Lendl retired seven years later as an eight-time major champion, with a legacy that will live on forever.
Can Novak Djokovic win the French Open at 39?
39 years after Lendl’s final French Open triumph, Djokovic has an opportunity to make history in Paris.
No player has won a Grand Slam singles title at 39 (or 38), a feat Djokovic will be looking to accomplish over the coming weeks.
The Serb will begin his French Open campaign against the big server, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Djokovic will need to play better than he did in Rome if he is to avoid a first-round upset, but with all his experience, should find his way through to the second round.
There, he could play another Frenchman, Valentin Royer.
Ranked 69 places above Royer, Djokovic shouldn’t have too much trouble booking his spot in round three.
Unfortunately for Djokovic, Joao Fonseca, a man 20 years his junior, could await him in the third round.
Fonseca has shown his class at several smaller events and will now be keen to prove himself at one of the sport’s four biggest tournaments.
The tough matches don’t end there, as Djokovic could play two-time French Open finalist Casper Ruud in the last 16.
Ruud recently reached the final of the Italian Open, rediscovering the form that has seen him win 12 clay-court titles.
Djokovic may have a slightly easier quarter-final match if he gets that far, as he is projected to take on Australia’s Alex de Minaur.
The Aussie has struggled ever since winning the Rotterdam Open in February, although he has shown signs of life in Hamburg, reaching the semi-finals right before Roland Garros.
He could then play Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the semis, who he defeated in last year’s quarterfinals.
And in the final, Djokovic may need to do the impossible, and beat Jannik Sinner, if he is to lift the title.
It remains to be seen if Djokovic can win his 25th Grand Slam at the French Open this year…
The main draw begins on Sunday, May 24.
