Ranking Novak Djokovic's 23 Grand Slam tennis titles - ESPN

In retrospect, it seemed inevitable. Novak Djokovic entering a Rafael Nadal-less French Open, where he's now 92-8 all time against players not named Nadal? Of course he came away with the crown, becoming the all-time Slam titles leader in the process.

In real time, however, there was plenty of uncertainty. Djokovic had struggled all year to feel 100% fit, and in three clay-court tuneups leading to the French Open, he had gone only 5-3. History suggested he was likely to peak at Roland Garros, but especially with top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz lurking, there were obstacles. He had to win four tiebreakers in his first three rounds, and he dropped the first set (with a second-set tiebreaker looming) against Karen Khachanov in the quarterfinals. He was still looking for fifth gear well into the second week of the tournament.

He found it. Perhaps that part was inevitable. After winning a 7-0 tiebreaker, he put Khachanov away with relative ease. And after splitting two dynamic and thrilling sets with Alcaraz, he watched Alcaraz's fitness fail and swept the final two sets, 6-1, 6-1. And while Casper Ruud was able to make him look and feel his age in the early stages of their finals matchup, the 36-year-old Djokovic won virtually every key point and cruised, 7-6, 6-3, 7-5. After a deflating first-set loss, Ruud rebounded to play well in the third. But it didn't matter. Djokovic won 12 of the match's final 13 points.

.<a href=«https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal?ref_src=» https:>@RafaelNadal

congratulated <a href=«https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=» https:>@DjokerNole after he passed Nadal for the most Grand Slam titles in men's tennis history