Andy Murray conceded he would have to pick himself up from another Grand Slam final defeat after losing to Novak Djokovic in four sets at the French Open on Sunday. Djokovic is only the third man to hold all four grand slam titles at once and the first since Rod Laver in 1969.
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“When you are playing the best in the world there are going to be times when they raise their game and after I missed break point in the first game of the second set he loosened up a bit”, reflected Murray. She becomes the youngest first-time major victor since Victoria Azarenka at the 2012 Australian Open and is the third straight first-time victor in as many major finals, following in the footsteps of Flavia Pennetta at last year’s US Open and Angelique Kerber at the Australian Open in January.
Djokovic’s maiden French Open title has now elevated him into the pantheon of tennis greats.
Djokovic is the first man since Laver to hold all four grand slam titles at once. He won the Australian Open earlier this year, and took both Wimbledon and the US Open last year.
The Brazilian said: “Yes, I believe so”. Eight men including Agassi, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic held each major at least once, but couldn’t notch up a Grand Slam by winning all the four in a single calendar year. Muguruza defeated Serena Williams of the U.S.in their final match of the French Open tennis.
“I have played some of my best tennis on clay over the past few weeks”.
The Paris crowd, aware of just how desperate Djokovic was to lift their trophy, gave him a prolonged ovation.
“At the beginning”, Djokovic said, “I was not glad to be part of their era”. The grass court tournament starts later this month.
STAR IS BORN: French Open women’s champion Garbine Muguruza moves up to a career-best No. 2 in the rankings Monday and appears to be a real star-in-the-making.
Djokovic then argued with umpire Damien Dumusois for refusing to have a point replayed at 15-0 as Murray served for the first set.
Although the Scot had won only two of their last 14 meetings, one of those came just before the tournament in Rome, boosting hopes that Murray could pull off what surely would be the greatest achievement of his career.
With Djokovic having achieved that benchmark, he is well placed to complete something no man has ever achieved – the Golden Slam of four majors and Olympic gold in the same year.
For the 29-year-old Serb, it is now 12 grand slam titles. “I felt something that I never felt before at Rolland Garros”. Federer-Nadal: 8, Djokovic-Nadal: 7, Djokovic-Murray: 7.
“I realized that in life, everything happens for a reason”, Djokovic said Sunday, his trophy next to him. I really felt like I played on a high quality and putting a lot of pressure on Andy’s serves and just trying to hang in there.
Andy Murray (l) congratulates Novak Djokovic after his French Open success.
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That is perhaps the most unsafe thought: As Federer (bad back) and Nadal (hurt wrist) continue to fight their bodies, and Murray (10-24 lifetime against Djokovic) has a hard time solving Djokovic, the 29-year-old Serbian only looks to do more.
