Novak Djokovic’s six French Open finals

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic (L) comforts Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz Garfia after his victory during their men’s singles semi-final match on day thirteen of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on June 9, 2023. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)

Novak Djokovic on Sunday faces Casper Ruud in his seventh final at Roland Garros.

AFP Sport looks back at his previous six championship matches at the tournament, a run which has yielded two wins and four defeats.

– 2012: lost to Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 – In a final pushed into a third week for only the second time because of rain on the Sunday, Nadal, playing in his 16th Grand Slam final, took his Paris record to a staggering 52 wins against just one loss.

Victory, which was achieved on a Djokovic double fault, allowed him to break the tie for six French Opens he shared with Bjorn Borg.

For five-time major winner Djokovic, the Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champion, it was the end of his dream of emulating Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) by holding all the Grand Slams at once.

He was left to regret his unforced error count of 53 which undermined his challenge.

– 2014: lost to Rafael Nadal (ESP) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 – Nadal clinched his ninth French Open and 14th career Grand Slam title, becoming the first man to win five Roland Garros crowns in succession.

“Every moment was crucial, all the points were so hard,” said Nadal.

Djokovic dominated the early stages of the final, the pair’s 42nd meeting, seemingly immune to the sweltering 30-degree heat on Philippe Chatrier court.

But Nadal, playing in his 20th Grand Slam final to Djokovic’s 13th, grew stronger as the final wore on as he ended a four-match losing streak against