It is Novak’s sport now, no debate, no arguments.
After Grand Slam No. 23, a two-week romp in which Djokovic lost all of two sets out of 23 on a surface that is historically his worst, outlasting a cramping Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinal and prompting Casper Ruud to lose his will after an airtight first set in the final, it is not just the weight of history propping up the 2023 men’s French Open champion, but the reality of his longevity.
Rafael Nadal, who Djokovic passed in major victories for the first time ever on Sunday, will finish his career in 2024. Roger Federer, who for so long looked so indomitable, retired last year.
Djokovic is 36, an age at which the likes of Alcaraz and Ruud should by rights have had him gassed by the end of their respective matches. Instead, it was the young Alcaraz whose body betrayed him in the third set on Friday. And it was Djokovic who found a second wind after going down a break in the first set to Ruud on Sunday, and who held serve for the rest of the match, winning 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-5.
