Novak Djokovic makes history with 23rd major crown
Novak Djokovic has become the first man in history to win 23 Grand Slam singles titles, after beating Casper Ruud in the Roland Garros final.
Djokovic beat Ruud, 7-6(1) 6-3 7-5, to lead the men’s Grand Slam title race for the first time in his career and overtake his absent rival Rafael Nadal.
Nadal, who had to miss Roland Garros for the first time since 2004 through injury, congratulated the 36-year-old along with many others, “Many congrats on this amazing achievement @DjokerNole. 23 is a number that just a few years back was impossible to think about, and you made it! Enjoy it with your family and team!”
Many congrats on this amazing achievement @DjokerNole
23 is a number that just a few years back was imposible to think about, and you made it!
Enjoy it with your family and team! 👏🏻— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 11, 2023
The Serb went down an early break in the first set, however after breaking the Norwegian back Djokovic played an almost flawless tie-break and there was no looking back.
In-fact throughout his time in Paris this year, Djokovic has not made a single unforced error in the six tie-breaks he has played.
With his record triumph, Djokovic regains his place at the top of the ATP rankings and becomes the first man to win every major title at least three times.
Gotta catch em all 🎾
With a new Paris title, @DjokerNole becomes the first male to win each Grand Slam tournament at least three times.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/f0uGzCiOHs
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 11, 2023
Djokovic used his post-match speech to send a message to the future generations, “I am beyond fortunate in my life to win 23 Grand Slams, it’s an incredible feeling. I would like to use the moment… my kids are here and I always try to convey some values, some messages, something they can learn from and draw some inspiration.”
He continued, “I would just like to send a message to every young person out there whatever you are persuading whether it is tennis, sports, anything else. I was a seven-year-old dreaming I could win Wimbledon and become number one in the world someday.”
“As I said I’m beyond blessed that I can be standing here with so many incredible achievements but one thing is for sure – I believed I could have the power to create my own destiny. I could visualise every single thing in my life, not only believe it but really feel it with every cell of my body.”
“Stay in the present, let go of the past, the future is just going to happen but if you want a better future, take the means in your hands, believe it, create it.”
For Casper Ruud, it is a third Grand Slam final defeat after reaching the final of three of the past five Grand Slam tournaments.
Novak Djokovic and his 23 Grand Slam titles
Djokovic’s first Grand Slam title dates back to 2008, and since then he has continued to take the major tournament’s by storm.
Here are all of the Serb’s major titles:
- Australian Open (2008)
- Australian Open (2011)
- Wimbledon (2011)
- US Open (2011)
- Australian Open (2012)
- Australian Open (2013)
- Wimbledon (2014)
- Australian Open (2015)
- Wimbledon (2015)
- US Open (2015)
- Australian Open (2016)
- Roland Garros (2016)
- Wimbledon (2018)
- US Open (2018)
- Australian Open (2019)
- Wimbledon (2019)
- Australian Open (2020)
- Australian Open (2021)
- Roland Garros (2021)
- Wimbledon (2021)
- Wimbledon (2022)
- Australian Open (2023)
- Roland Garros (2023)
A story unlike any other
The quest for 2️⃣3️⃣@AustralianOpen | @rolandgarros | @Wimbledon | @usopen | @atptour pic.twitter.com/uqqFGYSEGU
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 11, 2023
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