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
A good strategy would be to endlessly lob Novak since he seems incapable of hitting the smash.
See!!! Yet again he won’t smash the ball!
Inexcusable miss by Ruud at 30 all on a slow second serve..
Ruud is getting caught flat footed. He’s not anticipating like he usually does and waiting to see what Djokovic does next.
At least Ruud is pushing him physically. Even if he loses this set, he’s a chance.
Ruud is getting caught flat footed. He’s not anticipating like he usually does and waiting to see what Djokovic does next.
At least Ruud is pushing him physically. Even if he loses this set, he’s a chance..
Ruud has played really well but Djok’s level in the tie break was amazing. All over now, I fear.
Usually I would agree with you but that might but necessarily be the case given their ages differences and how much Djokovic has been pushed physically. If Ruud starts playing freely like he has this RG, things could get interesting. Maybe he needed to lose that set.
Finally Novak starts to play! After an atrocious first set he raises his level for the tb.
If Rafa had played Novak today and Novak had played the same he would have bagelled him.
What is wrong with Novak’s bh? Before the tb he hadn’t hit a single winner with it. Not sure he hit one in the tb.
Rudd’s serves are a SERIOUS liability!!! Ure can’t be serving in a GS final with these poor serves!!! Especially in a TB……..with Nole!!!
VAMOS, Rudd!!!
Delpo just tweeted that Novak played a bad set but still managed to win. True!
That’s y he has 22 GSs! Rafa does the same in many cases!! We sit there pulling our hair and yet Rafa is still able to pull through! If Rudd’s serves were better he would have perhaps serve for the set and won!
if Novak had played like that against Rafa Rafa would have slaughtered him!
Ruud needs to find his game again and fast. This is a must win set.
Yeah, well Nole is known for great TB performances…….he’s like Roger!! When it comes to TBs Roger is KING!!! If Rudd had a better serve the score would perhaps be closer!! But yes, Rudd is playing very well he just needs to keep on keeping om! At least he is keeping things competitive. He should not adopt the attitude that it’s over……..it’s the best of 5! Had Rafa felt that way at the AO against Med…….
Yep, Roger was really the king in those 3 TBs in Wimbledon final in 2019…
Finally Novak hits a smash!!😀
By the way, where is Novak’s wrist/shoulder injury?! Has it healed?!! Sigh!!
Monalisa, how’s your smile doing right now?
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To me it’s pretty inexcusable that Ruud lost that set given how sub par Novak was.
Other players ie Alcaraz and even Tsitsi would have taken that set.
Add to that Med, Rune, Sinner..
Ruud doesn’t have what it takes at the highest level. That’s y he has only won 250 tournament s.
Normally I follow tenngrand for some tips. But by far the worst tips in the history on tenngrand over the last couple of days. These best bets have been disgraceful and not even close.
It’s over. Congrats to Novak fans especially Elizabeth.
Meanwhile. Please if Rafa is out can Novak play someone who has some chance of beating him. Ie not Ruud.
Gosh this is miserable stuff for Rafa fans.
Novak was hyper tense in the first set. There are other players who could have won that set and put him under pressure.
Med winning Rome was not a good thing for this tournament. Alcaraz and Djokovic should be #1 and #2 and on opposites side of the draw. That should have been the final. Alcaraz could have won today. His nerves at the beginning would have been settled by Novak,’s nerves and poor play.
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