Former player David Ferrer described the 2023 edition of
Roland Garros as a strange one, even though there was nothing surprising about
Novak Djokovic winning.
Novak Djokovic ended up as the champion and while that seems like something natural after so many years of his dominance, it was strange in some ways. Leading up to the event
Rafael Nadal made headlines when he pulled out of the tournament.
Rising stars like Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune didn't live up to the expectations. Andrey Rublev and Stefanos
Tsitsipas disappointed with their performances.
Carlos Alcaraz cruise and
was favoured against Djokovic who looked
questionable and injured for much of this year's clay season. And then
he cramped in the biggest moment of his career so far.
And then Djokovic won it.
It has been a slightly strange Roland Garros with the loss of Rafa Nadal and with Carlos Alcaraz who suffered those cramps when the match was very even. But, without a doubt, Novak Djokovic deserved to win Roland Garros and prove that he is one of the best.
- Ferrer on Roland Garros
A somewhat expected conclusion but a very odd sequence of events leading up to it. In the end, Ferrer is right, Djokovic did deserve it because he once again proved like a rubber. He was stretched, folded, pushed and nothing worked. While others faltered Djokovic rose up once again.
It's not going to be easy but we're talking about one of the best in history, he's trained for it. If he is physically very well, he comes from winning the most difficult Grand Slam for him because of his type of game and he has achieved it with solvency.
- Ferrer on Djokovic