Novak Djokovic surpassed all in the annals of men's tennis after etching his 23rd Grand Slam into history.
In a sporting world characterized by constant evolution and ceaseless competition, moments of true distinction are increasingly rare. Yet, at the 2023 Roland Garros final, tennis behemoth Novak Djokovic presented such a moment, catapulting himself into the echelons of unprecedented achievement by capturing his 23rd Grand Slam title.
Only until recently, there were three man on the ATP Tour tied at 20 Grand Slam titles. Fast-forward a couple of years, only two left, with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic tied at 22. After the 2023 Roland Garros, there's only one standing above all other men that have ever won a major.
By beating Casper Ruud in the 2023 Roland Garros final, 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-5, Djokovic became the first even man to win 23 Grand Slam titles, and third person in history of tennis to do that, with Serena Williams sharing the same amount and Margaret Court having one more.
But despite leaving him in the dust, at least for now, Nadal certainly saw his biggest rival rewrite history and after the last ball was played, the 37-year-old Spaniard was quick to congratulate the newly crowned 23-time Grand Slam champion.
"Many congrats on this amazing achievement Novak. 23 is a number that just a few years back was impossible to think about, and you made it! Enjoy it with your family and team!"
The 14-time Roland Garros champion wasn't there to stop the Serb from winning, as he was forced to withdraw from this year's event. But Nadal is writing his own history, the history which may end next year.
The 37-year-old announced that the 2024 season will probably be his last, and if fellow compatriot Carlos Alcaraz and other youngsters help him, he may tie Djokovic at 23 Grand Slam next year in Paris.
But until then, Djokovic can have already 26 major titles to his name. But only time will tell what will happen in the coming years and if the Big Three's dominance will continue also beyond the 2023 season.
0 Comments