PARIS — As just lately as two days in the past, it was broadly believed that the toughest process in tennis was to beat Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros.
However after a shocking come-from-behind win over Stefanos Tsitsipas within the French Open closing on Sunday, following a defeat of Nadal within the semifinal, maybe the mantra needs to be modified: The toughest process in tennis is to beat Novak Djokovic in a Grand Slam occasion.
Tsitsipas, the chief of the so-called Subsequent Gen, thought he had him overwhelmed, taking the primary two units within the closing on Sunday beneath good, sunny skies. Djokovic, who had wanted greater than 4 hours to put on down Nadal in an epic semifinal, regarded spent.
We must always have identified higher. For the umpteenth time in his profession, Djokovic was at his most harmful when he regarded executed — pulling himself again but once more to clinch a 6-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory.
The 34-year-old now owns 19 Grand Slam titles, one behind the document of 20 held by Nadal and Roger Federer. He’s the primary man within the Open period to win all 4 Grand Slams no less than twice. And whisper it, however he’s midway to the coveted achievement of successful all 4 slams in a calendar yr, one thing solely Rod Laver has managed on the lads’s aspect within the Open period.
“The extent of tennis within the final 48 hours was not straightforward to do,” Djokovic stated Sunday. “I believe beating two nice champions [Nadal and Tsitsipas] was bodily, mentally very robust. As soon as once more, it’s a dream come true. I’m not going to cease right here, I’m going to maintain going.”
Tsitsipas had additionally wanted 5 units to get previous Alexander Zverev within the semis, holding his nerve when the German fought again from two units right down to drive a decider.
In his first Grand Slam closing, Tsitsipas got here out sturdy and matched Djokovic within the first set, saving a set level at 6-5 after which one other within the tiebreak as he moved forward. Within the second, Tsitsipas stepped it up once more, and by the point he had doubled his lead, the world No. 1 regarded shattered.
Djokovic took a rest room break after the second set, and when he returned, issues modified.
“He got here again, to me, like a unique participant, out of the blue,” Tsitsipas stated. “He performed rather well, he gave me no area. I felt bodily, the whole lot on the court docket [for him] felt significantly better than earlier than. I felt he may learn my sport out of the blue. Good for him; he did effectively to get there.”
Regardless that Tsitsipas continued to battle, the actual Djokovic had returned. The Serb lifted his sport a number of ranges, together with his drop shot and contact across the web significantly efficient.
“After that [break], I felt like I received into his head,” Djokovic stated. “I really feel like I began swinging by the ball higher. The momentum was on my aspect — it shifted. There was no trying again from that second.”
Federer may most likely sympathize with Tsitsipas, having skilled first-hand Djokovic’s resilience on a couple of event. In five-set clashes on the US Open in 2010 and 2011, Djokovic saved two match factors every time within the deciding set earlier than defeating Federer. Then, maybe most famously, Federer was unable to transform back-to-back match factors of their Wimbledon closing assembly in 2019.
When Djokovic’s again is in opposition to the wall, when he seems to be like he’s exhausted, he’s like Muhammad Ali on the ropes, a second away from bouncing again and turning issues round in his favor. His two comebacks from two units down at this French Open made him the primary participant within the Open Period (since 1968) to make a number of 2-0 comebacks en path to successful a significant singles title, per ESPN’s Stats & Data Group. Djokovic can also be the third participant in males’s tennis historical past with a number of 2-0 comebacks alongside the way in which to successful a significant title. The others are Henri Cochet at 1927 Wimbledon (three comebacks from two units down) and Ted Schroeder at 1949 Wimbledon, per SIG.
Tsitsipas summed up what it’s wish to face him, and what it takes to win a Grand Slam title.
“What I discovered right this moment is that it doesn’t matter what, to ensure that the match to be completed, you need to win three units and never two,” he stated. “Two units doesn’t actually imply something. It’s nonetheless one away from successful the complete match.
“It’s all about endurance; if you happen to can sustain with the endurance, hold your degree there for longer intervals of time, then after all that’s what is required in a Grand Slam. I performed two good units. I wouldn’t name them unimaginable. I simply performed rather well. It wasn’t sufficient. It wasn’t sufficient. That’s a Grand Slam for you. It’s the way in which it’s.”
Talking on Eurosport, three-time Roland Garros champion Mats Wilander stated Djokovic’s potential to rally from tough conditions was unparalleled.
“I’m undecided what he tells himself when he’s two units to like down — is he capable of utterly neglect the rating or is it that he has spent two hours on the court docket with somebody and now is aware of precisely what he must do?” the Swede stated.
“He pulls off the correct photographs on the proper time, he seems to be brisker and brisker because the match is happening. He’s so intelligent and he’s so calm nowadays. He seems to be unbeatable within the third, fourth and fifth.”
Tsitsipas ought to take solace in reaching his first Grand Slam closing and the truth that he’ll rise to a career-high No. 4 within the rankings when the listing is up to date Monday.
For Djokovic, although, the hunt for final greatness continues. He would be the favourite to win at Wimbledon, which begins in a fortnight, with an opportunity to equal Federer and Nadal at 20 Grand Slams.
Ought to he handle that, he’ll then go to the US Open trying to break the document and full the calendar-year Slam. Few would guess in opposition to him.
“I believe he has the flexibility to win the Grand Slam for this yr,” Marian Vajda, Djokovic’s coach, stated Sunday. “I’m fairly positive.”
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