The Phillippe Chatrier is ready for the big occasion. Novak Djokovic will set foot on his red earth this Sunday ready to leave his mark on Roland Garros and, above all, in the history of tennis. In his hand is conquering the 23rd Grand Slam of his career. Beat the record he shares with Rafael Nadal, with 22, and do it on land dominated by the Balearic champion, absent due to a hip injury. Few doubt that he succeeds.
“I am very close to that moment. I know. I am very happy to be in a position to make more history in this sport but I am only thinking about getting another victory ”, he said after beating Carlos Alcarazthe main obstacle, in that great challenge.
Djokovic faces the last obstacle, before becoming the best player in the history of tennis, at least due to the cold statistics of the numbers, although in other evaluations, both Roger Federer and Nadal continue to take advantage of him and it does not seem that he is going to never get over them
Casper Ruudthe last one who can prevent Djokovic’s success, does not seem the toughest opponent to prevent it. The former number one is the absolute favorite. Not even in Norway do they trust the miracle. The pre-match statistics also leave little doubt as to who will lift the Musketeers Cup for the third time. Not only because of the Serbian’s record with 22 Grand Slams and 93 titles against the Norwegian’s 10 titles and three Grand Slam finals in his record. Two at Roland Grros and one at the US Open.
Also in clashes Djokovic dominates by an unappealable 4-0 Ruud, who has not yet won a set and has lost on the ground the two times they have met before, in Rome. The bets are clear that Djokovic’s victory is paid at 1.22 euros and Ruud’s at 4.50.
ruud already faced a similar situation last year before nadal. The final then had no color. This time it seems that the situation could be repeated, although the experience of that match and the final played by Ruud in the US Open against Alcaraz, allowed him to believe a little more in his options, even if they are minimal. “I will try to play free, without pressure. I will use last year’s loss as extra motivation. It’s a great feeling to be back. I didn’t think he would reach the final ”, said the Norwegian, 24 years old and world number 4.
The Serbian Finals
The final lost by Djokovic in 2015when he eliminated Nadal in the quarterfinals and fell to Stan Wawrinka It is the only blur in a scenario where the Serbian has played seven finals and, in addition to the Swiss, he has only lost the three played against Nadal (2012, 2014 and 2020), in the others he beat Murray (2016) and tsitsipas (2021.
“I am ready to fight for a Grand Slam again. I have all this history in my favor. It is a privilege to be able to write the history of this sport that I love so much and that has given me so much. My motivation is very high but there is one game left to get my hands on the cup”.
Alcaraz seeks explanations
and you lie Djokovic prepares for his great bath of glory, far from Paris, already in Murcia, alcaraz will undergo an exhaustive review of your body to find the reasons for these cramps that gripped him against the Serbian and turned his dream of succeeding Nadal in the list of winners into an ordeal.
It is not the first setback. And that, at 20 years old, worries his people who, in Paris, have taken him between cotton pads, taking care of his body, reserving him without training the days before his games. At the end of November 2022, he was left without playing his first Masters and the Davis Cup final due to an abdominal injury that forced him to retire in the quarterfinals of Paris-Bercy against the Danish Holger Rune.
A couple of months later, before traveling to the Australian Open, he stayed in Murcia due to a hamstring injury in his right leg and was unable to compete until the Buenos Aires tournament in February. He then played and lost the Rio de Janeiro final, limping against Cameron Norrie.
Paris cramps are not new. In the last semifinals in Miami, which they lost to Jannik Sinner, also accused cramps but as against Djokovic the game also ended. “You have to look for solutions. Knowing what has been done wrong”said Alcaraz before leaving Roland Garros.