Novak Djokovic is one win away from becoming the all-time leader with 23 men’s singles Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic’s biggest rivals–Rafael Nadal, with whom he is tied at 22, and Roger Federer–can’t stop him. The world No. 1–Carlos Alcaraz–already tried and failed to stop him in the French Open semifinals on Friday. All that’s left standing in his way in Sunday’s championship match is Casper Ruud, who is 22 slam titles behind Djokovic with zero.
That’s not to say Ruud should be discounted. The Norwegian has twice come within one win of his own major title but lost to Nadal in the 2022 Roland Garros final and to Alcaraz a few months later in the U.S. Open final. Will the third time be the charm for Ruud? The world No. 4 has given himself another opportunity following victories over Elias Ymer, Giulio Zeppieri, Zhizhen Zhang, Nicolas Jarry, Holger Rune, and Alexander Zverev.
Back on his favorite clay-court surface, Ruud has heated up in a major way over the past couple of weeks. He reached the Geneva final and has been especially impressive over the last three rounds, avenging his Geneva loss to Jarry, beating a red-hot Rune, and crushing Zverev while dropping a total of just one set in those matches.
Now the competition level gets a lot tougher, just as it did in the 2022 Roland Garros final against Nadal. Djokovic had also underwhelmed at times this season, but as usual he is a whole different beast at Grand Slams. The 36-year-old Serb triumphed at the Australian Open and he finds himself in the French Open final following victories over Aleksandar Kovacevic, Marton Fucsovics, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Juan Pablo Varillas, Karen Khachanov, and Alcaraz.
“It’s going to be tough, for sure,” Ruud commented. “He’s playing for his 23rd; I’m playing for my first. So I’m going to just try to play without pressure and just try to enjoy the moment. I think that was my mentality last year, as well, and it didn’t go my way. Obviously I would like to try to do better than last year. Let’s see if I have learned something from the two previous ones that I played.”
Said Djokovic: “Experience on my side, but does it win matches? I don’t think so. I just have to recover well, be prepared for another long battle, and, you know, after the finals, if I win, let’s talk about history.”
It could, in fact, be a battle–at least for a while. Ruud was in uncharted territory in the 2022 title match against Nadal, who has always been his idol. Unsurprisingly, that was too difficult of a situation for the underdog and he got blown out 6-3, 6-3, 6-0. Ruud improved dramatically in the U.S. Open final, succumbing to Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3. Those experiences can only help the 24-year-old, who will undoubtedly be motivated to do everything he can to prevent Djokovic from passing Nadal.
All of that being said, Djokovic is once again looking like the best player in the world and nowhere is that more obvious than at the Grand Slam level–specifically in slam finals. This may not be a complete rout, but come Sunday evening in Paris we will almost certainly be talking about history.
Pick: Djokovic in 4
who ya got?
Rudd
Novak in 3.
“Novak Djokovic is one win away from becoming the all-time leader with 23 men’s singles Grand Slam titles.
The two players he is tied with–Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer–can’t stop him.”
Tied with Roger, in what?!
Hate to tell you but history means nothing to you when you’re dead – it’s as good to you as a homeless person on the street
“it’s as good to you as it is to a homeless in the street”.
A God doesn’t care how many tennis events you won because you have a massive ego and can’t handle losing.
But God, I worked out the technique to not miss on the backend – doesn’t that make me special.
Nope, sorry dude, I don’t give two fcks about your take back on the backhand.
Novak 3-1, obviously.
Freudian slip – the chart’s options = Joker v Rafa . . . What we’re all thinking, of course 😉
I picked Rafa in 3.
Would certainly be a way way better final.
Rafa playing Novak for #23 could have been one of the greatest matches ever.
One good thing is that at the end of this Alcaraz is #2 and Djokovic #1 so we hopefully stop getting these lopsided draws with damp squib finals.
Anyway, in a few weeks time Novak will almost certainly be on #24. I don’t mind about that. What I mind is Rafa being out with injury.
I remember after AO Goran spoke at length about how he really wanted Rafa and Novak both to be healthy and slug it out at RG for #23.
Said Rafa,was the man to beat and RG was the home of Rafa as AO was the home of Novak.
😪😪😪😪
Nole for 23! What an achievement it will be, fingers crossed, no hiccups. Didn’t expect him to beat Alcaraz (cramps notwithstanding, didn’t expect it to be so close for first 2 sets).
Novak was clearly the better player for the first set and a half!
I just can’t see Rudd taking 3 sets off Novak, he’s just another level above everyone else, to be honest I think it’s him and the rest, Stan, Murray, shadows of their former selves, Rafa injured, Fed retired, good time to clean up, PEACE ✌️
agree with what you say Alison but Alcaraz is a real contender for the future. In terms of talent he is streets ahead of anyone else.
But Novak needs a real rival and, as he always says, his greatest rival is Rafa.
By streets ahead of anyone else obviously I mean compared with his generation…
Tennis is a hell of a thing…………we’ve seen so many impossible things happen in tennis already…………I’m just hoping for a competitive match. However I do believe Rudd will give a good account of himself!!
Vamos Rudd!! 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽
any news on Novak’s wrist?
There is NO wrist injury!!!! He’s just good at playing possum………..there’s always something that’s nothing!!!!
wwafa never loses when healthy. that’s reach coming from a wafa fan.
Sorry Mona but it’s absolutely clear to me he has a problem. Around the time he took the MTO his level dropped and he was shaking his arm.
“There is NO wrist injury!!!! He’s just good at playing possum………..there’s always something that’s nothing!!!!”
Says Rafa fan!
Ruud’s biggest drawcard is that it’s within his power to prevent Djokovic from surpassing his good buddy Nadal. He might be better at serving others than serving himself in this type of situation.
wafatards on a wafa infested portal have lot of trouble picking Novak for the win, and hoping that ruud will protect wafa’s legacy. ain’t happening.
I am not interested in Rudd protecting Rafa’s legacy!! I want Rudd to give a good account of himself and play a great match regardless of whom is on the other side of the net! I want Rudd to start his OWN legacy!!
And as for Novak.s wrist/shoulder injury……..pfffffffft!!!
Lets hope this match doesn’t turn out as ugly and heartless as the last one.
Hope so too, Tom!!
Hoping it’s not a beat down and Ruud at least gets a set.
Novak playing awful.
Is this gonna be like how Novak played \USO 21!
Or Rudd is playing well?
Novak has hit 11 ues already. Is clearly very tense.
Y should Novok be tense? Its supposed to be a walk over!! No contest!!! What is he tense about?! Rudd should be tense!
Anyway Rudd may go down but at least he’s giving a great account of himself thus far and I love what i’m seeing!! Bring it on, Rudd!! VAMOS!!!
Because he is playing for history! He was like this when playing for all 4 in the same year at USO 21. Was consumed by tension.
I’m thinking the same thing amy!..he could be nervous & overwhelmed too!..but..still early..question now,whether Ruud can stay motivated & focus for 4,5 sets?
At the USO21 Novak was tense fur the whole match mira.
If he continues like this he will lose.
It’s not really about Ruud. If he was playing like this against a number of players he would lose.
Look at that missed smash by Novak! Pure tension.
Well that’s what happened with Stan when Novak was going for his first French! But to me nerves and Novak do not go in the same sentence, lol!!
Oh, NOW they’re talking about Rudd’s strategy! Hahahaha……thought he didn’t have any?!!!
I can’t believe those commentators……saying they see no clear strategy in Rudd’s game is just that he has benefited from Novak’s sluggish start! These commentators are so biased!!!
Rudd is playing GREAT!!! Just admit it!! Hes doing everything right except his serves need to be a bit better……the placement at least. Sigh!!
Damn it, Rudd!!! He just gave that game away!!!! Choopz!!!!
There really isn’t a lot on some of these shots by Novak. Serve speeds down as well.