Novak Djokovic got here all the way in which again after dropping the primary two units to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7 (6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 within the French Open ultimate Sunday for his nineteenth Grand Slam title.
Djokovic’s second trophy at Roland Garros strikes him one main championship away from tying the boys’s file of 20 shared by Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
An unforgettable journey 🏆#RolandGarros | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/EHhcmo4eb2
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 13, 2021
It additionally places reigning Australian Open champion Djokovic midway to a calendar-year Grand Slam, one thing no man has achieved since Rod Laver in 1969.
The 34-year-old Djokovic eradicated 13-time French Open champion Nadal in a semifinal that lasted greater than 4 hours Friday night time. That is likely to be why the 22-year-old Tsitsipas had the higher hand early, and Djokovic seemed drained for 2 units.
Eventually, although, he began making fewer errors, acquired his best-in-the-game returning on monitor, served virtually flawlessly down the stretch and was in a position to full his sixth profession comeback from two units down — and second of the previous week.
Unmatched 🏆🏆@DjokerNole is now the primary man in Open Era historical past to win all 4 Grand Slams twice. #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/nAfmFHBJst
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 13, 2021
Indeed, the International Tennis Federation stated Djokovic — who trailed 19-year-old Lorenzo Musetti two units to none within the fourth spherical — is the primary man within the skilled period to win a Grand Slam event after twice dealing with a 2-0 deficit in units.
Experience might have been an element, too.
This was the primary main ultimate for Tsitsipas and twenty ninth for Djokovic, who additionally received the French Open in 2016, together with 9 titles on the Australian Open, 5 at Wimbledon and three on the U.S. Open.
Of simply as a lot, if no more, significance to the last word end result Sunday: Djokovic entered the day with a 34-10 file in five-setters — together with a males’s-record 31 wins in Grand Slam matches of that size — whereas Tsitsipas was 5-4.
🔥Grand Slam Title Leaderboard 🔥
2️⃣0️⃣ Roger Federer2️⃣0️⃣ Rafael Nadal1️⃣9️⃣ Novak Djokovic#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/j5ConjTZBN
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 13, 2021
On a sunny and breezy afternoon, with the temperature approaching 80 levels Fahrenheit (over 25 levels Celsius), Tsitsipas wanted simply over 100 minutes to seize an enormous lead Sunday.
But the tenacious and proficient Djokovic didn’t give up, grabbing early breaks in every of the final three units.