AFCON 2025
By Chima Azu
Serbian Tennis legend Novak Djokovic won his 23 Grand Slam title after defeating Norwegian Casper Ruud in the French Open final in three straight sets (7-6, 6-3, 7-5).
Djokovic also made history by becoming the oldest player to win a Grand Slam at the age of 36. He surpasses his arch rival and Spanish legend Rafael Nadal by winning his 23rd.They were both tied on 22 Grand Slams each when Novak won the Australian Open this year.
The match started with Ruud on the front foot as he broke Djokovic in the second game of Djokovic’s serve and went 3-0 up in the first set and it seemed like the world number four would create and upset. Novak broke back in the eight game to level things at 4-4 and later won the first set on tie-break.
The second set was one sided as the Serb broke Ruud twice and served out the set 6-3 with his opponent making so much unforced errors.
Ruud raised his game in the third by taking the game to Djokovic and being more aggressive in his play. He held on to his serve until he lost it in game eleven were the Serb broke to go up 6-5. Djokovic served out the match with ease by winning 7-5 in the third by clinching the trophy in three sets.
His win makes it his third French Open trophy and he has now won at least three Grand Slams on all four major tournaments. Also, he is now the all-time men’s Tennis player with the most Grand Slams but his still one shy of female Tennis great Margaret Court who won 24 Grand Slams.
Djokovic will now move up to world number one with his victory when the ATP ranking is published later this week. He will dethrone Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz who would drop to number two from number.
