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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Your support makes all the difference.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 6-6 Casper Ruud
So good from Ruud as he takes a backhand on the rise and plants the winner down the line, but Djokovic flashes the forehand winner down the line - he’s biggest winner of the match so far - to get to 40-15.
First serve from Djokovic. Big forehand. Ruud went to the drop shot, but Djokovic meets it!
TIEBREAK!
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud latest score
*Novak Djokovic 5-6 Casper Ruud
Umpire Damien Dumusois is trying to get Djokovic to take less time in between points. Djokovic is furious. Can he keep his nerve to force the tiebreak?
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud latest score
*Novak Djokovic 5-6 Casper Ruud
This first set is already over an hour long - but shows no sign of ending soon. Ruud moves in well and calmly dispatches the volley onto the line at 15-15. Awesome backhand from Ruud crosscourt! Right onto the and Ruud puts the volley into the open court.
Djokovic isn’t happy! He’s arguing with the umpire and the crowd start to boo!
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud latest score
Novak Djokovic 5-5 Casper Ruud*
CASPER RUUD that is STUNNING! First he moves 0-15 up with a brilliant lob, then he chases down Djokovic’s lob to play the tweener from behind the baseline. Djokovic can’t do enough with the smash - again - and Ruud races to the ball to find the angled volley!
0-30!
But Djokovic comes back well. Closing down Ruud at the net and then pushes the fourth seed back. Ruud went for the backhand winner down the line but put it wide.
30-30. Big point - and Ruud would want that forehand return back. Out.
And that’s a huge hold from Djokovic. He sends Ruud running and the Norwegian can’t keep the forehand in play.
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud latest score
*Novak Djokovic 4-5 Casper Ruud
Djokovic slips and lands awkwardly! It came as Ruud stepped in well behind an excellent backhand that found the corner, and put away the volley. Ruud pushes Djokovic back again and puts away the smash.
Big hold! Saving break point with a 17-point rally was key.
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud latest score
Novak Djokovic 4-4 Casper Ruud*
Suddenly Ruud has lost three games in a row, and Djokovic can sense his moment. A forehand down the line from Djokovic catches out Ruud down low, and the Norwegian nets!
0-30. Djokovic had the chance to step in on the forehand, but Ruud defended well, and Djokovic is unable to keep the backhand in play as he stretched to go down the line. Ace from Ruud! Nicely done. Back to 30-30.
But Ruud is now making a lot more errors now than he did at the start of the match - a backhand slice from the baseline finds the net and gives Djokovic the break point.
Djokovic targets the backhand, but is unable to do enough. Ruud steps into the forehand well! Djokovic doubles over after the latest lengthy exchange.
Deuce.
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud latest score
Novak Djokovic 4-4 Casper Ruud*
Ooof. There are gasps from the crowd at the size of Ruud’s forehand and he crushes a winner crosscourt to get to 15-30. It’s followed by a net from behind the baseline, but then Ruud gets the crowd on its feet with a lovely disguised drop shot! Beauty.
Chance for Ruud to break straight back: Djokovic found the first serve but then struggled to put Ruud away. A nice forehand down the line set up the smash, which Djokovic puts into the middle of the court! He gets away with it with a volley that clips the line. Well saved, and Djokovic raises his arms.
Deuce.
And there’s the hold. Djokovic gets back level as Ruud goes long on the backhand, followed by the Serbian finding the one-two combination to put a forehand winner away.
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud latest score
*Novak Djokovic 3-4 Casper Ruud - BREAK!
Ruud makes another great start on serve with a lovely touch at the net. He then painted the line with a forehand cross, but framed his backhand winner over the baseline! From there, Ruud makes another unforced error from mid-court.
15-30, Djokovic goes on the attack, pressing Ruud back. Chance for the smash... and it goes over the baseline again! Another mishit from Djokovic!
But here comes the first break point, Ruud fires long on the forehand side, just looking to do a bit too much.
Break point: and Djokovic wins an incredible rally as Ruud nets on the overhead! Just stunning from both players, searching for the winners, 28 shots in all, so many big forehands mixed up with backhand slices. Ruud had the chance to put the smash away, but couldn’t take it! That’s a big miss and could be a big moment.
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud latest score
Novak Djokovic 2-4 Casper Ruud*
Djokovic gets a second comfortable hold in a row, starting to find his flow on the serve. He hasn’t been able to get close to Ruud’s service games, though. Two big ones coming up for the world No 4.
French Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud latest score
*Novak Djokovic 1-4 Casper Ruud
Awesome hitting from Ruud, who is in complete control of the points when they become extended rallies. I can’t remember seeing Djokovic make this many errors from the baseline.
Ruud takes the hold with a body serve and forehand winner down the line. The super start continues.
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