French Open final LIVE: Novak Djokovic makes tennis history with record-breaking grand slam win
Djokovic becomes the first man to reach 23 grand slam titles after beating Casper Ruud in straight sets in the Roland Garros final
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Novak Djokovic has made tennis history by winning a men’s record 23rd grand slam title after beating Casper Ruud in the French Open final at Roland Garros.
Djokovic defeated Ruud 7-6 6-3 7-5 to win his third French Open crown and move ahead of his great rival Rafael Nadal to take the outright lead in the men’s grand slam race for the first time. The victory moves the 36-year-old Serbian level with Serena Williams on 23 major titles, one short of Margaret Court’s overall record of 24.
Djokovic also becomes the oldest ever French Open champion at 36 and is now halfway to completing the calendar grand slam - a feat not achieved in men’s tennis since Rod Laver won all four majors in a single year in 1969. Djokovic will head to Wimbledon next month looking to equal Roger Federer’s men’s record of eight singles titles at the All England Club.
Follow live reaction from the French Open final below after Djokovic made history at Roland Garros.
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud latest score
Novak Djokovic 1-3 Casper Ruud*
Ruud is making life difficult for Djokovic by looping high balls to the back of the court, using the bounce to test Djokovic’s arm. He’s getting into the rallies behind his heavy forehand.
But Djokovic won’t be worried at this stage. He came from a set down to defeat Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals, and came from behind a lot on his way to winning Wimbledon last year.
Long way to go, though, and the 36-year-old gets on the board with a love to hold.
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud latest score
*Novak Djokovic 0-3 Casper Ruud
Miss! Ruud works himself into the baseline rally well against Djokovic after the Serbian goes big on the forehand. He had the chance to goes down the line with the winner, but puts it wide!
The Djokovic fans rise at 15-30, but the Serbian then puts a backhand into the net looking to go down the line! Another error from Djokovic - that’s 11 unforced errors so far inside three games!
But Ruud can’t close the game. He makes his first double fault and we go back to deuce.
Great response from Ruud. He makes the forehand winner crosscourt and then produces the kick serve out wide - which Djokovic puts into the net!
What a start from the Norwegian.
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud latest score
Novak Djokovic 0-2 Casper Ruud* - BREAK!
Djokovic fires down another big serve on deuce but Ruud is not making this easy and gets back to deuce with clean hitting fom deep behind the baseline.
Djokovic is the one having to stretch and go for the winners - he opens the court to put the forehand winner past Ruud, but then hits the net post on the next point.
Back to deuce: Djokovic with the wide serve and winner past Ruud, but then the 24-year-old blasts the forehand winner off the return!
Ruud has really arrived, but this be a bit gutting not to get anything from this game. Back to deuce.
WOW. Ruud forces another error for Djokovic after getting the Serbian stretching out to the forehand.
It brings up a third break point - and this time Djokovic frames the overhead! Ruud breaks in Djokovic’s opening service game, in a 12-minute epic!
Heck of a start from Ruud.
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud latest score
*Novak Djokovic 0-1 Casper Ruud
Djokovic blasts a big serve down the middle to get to 30-15 on serve, but Ruud has made an aggressive start and gets his reward for bold play from the baseline. The Norwegian is more than matching Djokovic in the rallies and the Serbian makes two errors in a row to suddenly hand Ruud break point!
Another long rally - this time Djokovic steadies and takes control. Ruud goes long.
Deuce.
Ruud is rock solid from the baseline and forces another error as Djokovic goes long .
Second break point: this time Djokovic cracks the winner down the line!
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud latest score
*Novak Djokovic 0-1 Casper Ruud
Excellent start from Ruud! The fourth seed holds to love behind his forehand, which is working nicely from the start. He also moves in well to put away a volley at the net after Djokovic went for the drop shot.
Tom Brady also looks to be here. Who isn’t?
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud latest score
Novak Djokovic 0-0 Casper Ruud*
HERE WE GO! Ruud will serve first. The atmosphere on Court Philippe-Chatrier is electric.
*denotes next server
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud
Kylian Mbappe and Hugh Grant are among the stars in the crowd at Roland Garros. Was that Zlatan Ibrahimovic too? It is.
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud
The roof - for now - has remained open as the players begin their warm-ups.
The stats are against Ruud - he’s never beaten Djokovic in four previous meetings, while the Serbian has won 10 of his last 12 grand slam finals.
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud
Here come the players - Ruud is out first, Djokovic follows and gets the louder reception, as you might expect. Huge cries of ‘Nole, Nole!’ with plenty of Serbia flags among the home crowd.
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud
HERE WE GO!
Novak Djokovic is on the verge of history in Paris, but can Casper Ruud spoil the party?
This line from the Norwegian perfectly summed up the challenge he faces.
“Novak is going for his 23rd, I’m going for my first. It’s a big difference,” he said.
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