Djokovic now holds all four Grand Slam titles and is just the third man in history to do that.
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Djokovic conceded the first set on Sunday at the Roland Garros and displayed the nerves of a champion to blow Andy Murray 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-4 in finals. He joins Rod Laver (twice) and Don Budge.
‘Winning this trophy gave me so much happiness and fulfilment. “I mean, I’m just so overwhelmed with having this trophy next to me that I’m just trying to enjoy this moment”.
Since losing the 2015 final in Paris, Djokovic has won 28 Grand Slam matches in a row, from Wimbledon and the U.S. Open past year, to the Australian Open in January, and now, at long last, the French Open.
While he could feel frustrated that Federer, Nadal, with 14, and to a lesser extent Murray, who has won two, deprived him of more Grand Slam titles, Djokovic believes the rivalries within the “Big Four” have made him a better player, and tennis a better sport. This is the Olympic year and the Serb, if he wins the gold in Rio, in August, and the remaining two grand slams of the year, Wimbledon and the US Open, would be the first man to achieve the Golden Slam – a term coined in 1988 following Steffi Graf’s success at the four majors and the Seoul Olympic Games.
As the world saw previous year, when Serena Williams came within two wins of securing the first women’s Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988, the attention and pressure that come along with such an endeavour can be overwhelming.
The last of those rare Murray victories came in May’s Italian Open final, also played on clay – a surface the Scot once mistrusted but now looks increasingly at ease on – and in the same damp conditions that dominated this year’s Roland Garros fortnight.
The victory sent Djokovic on top on the list for the most attempts before winning the title here. Djokovic took the match, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.
Djokovic was hot entering the fourth frame, getting an early 2-0 lead, en route to match point with a 5-2 advantage several games later. I think when I finish I will be more proud of my achievements maybe.
(AP Photo/Francois Mori). Spain’s Garbine Muguruza poses with the French Open tennis trophy during a photocall at Concorde Plaza in Paris, Sunday June, 5 2016.
“Later on, I realised that in life everything happens for a reason”. Men’s tennis has no defending Grand Slam champion right now other than French Open victor Novak Djokovic.
Murray said: “To Novak, this is his day”, said Murray.
“His performances over the last 18 months to two years have been exceptional and he deserves to be number one”. “It’s one of the ultimate challenges that you have as a tennis player”, added Djokovic who endured a nervous conclusion to Monday morning’s final.
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“Against him, obviously if you’re letting the best players control points, that’s tough”.
