Novak Djokovic wins French Open, record 23rd Grand Slam men’s singles title

Novak Djokovic won the French Open for his 23rd Grand Slam singles title, breaking the men’s record he shared with Rafael Nadal, a record that he may now own for a very long time.

Djokovic, a 36-year-old from Serbia, beat Norwegian Casper Ruud 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-5 in Sunday’s final at Roland Garros. He began his victory speech in French, saying it was special to break the record at the major that has been the most difficult for him to win.

“I waited for this moment and worked really, really hard to eventually get a shot at the historic Grand Slam title,” he said. “I’m obviously overwhelmed with most beautiful emotions at the moment but also huge relief because so much tension, so much intensity, so much, I guess, pressure and expectations.”

Djokovic also broke Nadal’s record as the oldest French Open singles champion. He became the first man to win all four tennis majors at least three times, joining three women who did so (Serena Williams, Steffi Graf and Margaret Court).

When Djokovic lost his first Grand Slam final — the 2007 U.S. Open to Roger Federer — he noted that time was on his side as he sought to improve his game to overtake Federer (five years older) and Nadal (one year older).

“I was a 7-year-old dreaming that I could Wimbledon and become No. 1 in the world one day,” he said Sunday. “I feel that I have the power to create my own destiny.”

Djokovic won his first major four months later at the Australian Open — his first of a record 10 Australian Open titles. It took him another three years to win his second major, and by then he had a gulf separating Nadal (nine majors) and Federer (16). But starting in 2011, Djokovic has won 22 of his last 46 major starts to pass them both.

Federer retired with 20 titles last