Novak Djokovic is facing an appointment with history. After his triumph against the number one in the world, the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, in the semifinals of Roland Garros, the Serbian was at the gates of a title that would change the tennis books: If on Sunday from 10 o’clock he beats the Norwegian Casper Ruud, the Serb will remain the only leader in the number of Grand Slam titles with 23, one more than the Spanish Rafael Nadal, absent at least until the end of the year due to an injury that required a visit to the operating room.
The cramps suffered by Alcaraz after two sets of sheer tension and intensity made it clear that Djokovic continues to be the rival to beat in the most demanding events, beyond what the occasional rankings say. At 20 years old, with a Grand Slam title at the US Open -important clarification, with Djokovic absent- and with exuberant tennis, Alcaraz still needs a ripening point for special occasionslike facing Nole in a decisive instance of a great tournament. “I had cramps from the nerves and the tension of playing with a legend like Djokovic”admitted the Spanish to clear up any doubts.
And to increase that legend, Djokovic has the chance this Sunday to add a new chapter against Ruud, who comes from beating the German Alexander Zverev in the semifinals and being a finalist in the previous edition. Like this everything, in spite of these antecedents, the Norwegian does not appear like favourite. And that without taking into account that the Serbian leads the record 4-0, without giving up a set, even with two wins on clay.
The fault, of course, is Djokovic’s. Twice champion in Paris, Djokovic is looking for a decisive blow in the fight to be the greatest tennis player in history. A new Musketeers trophy It will leave him with 23 Grand Slams, one more than Nadal and three more than the already retired Roger Federer. In addition, it will place you with at least three titles in each of the Majors, an achievement that no other tennis player achieved. And like yapa, a triumph will return him to the top of the world ranking, that he left in the hands of Alcaraz when the brick dust season was averaging. Too many incentives for an inveterate competitor, that all he wants are titles to continue feeding his legend.