With his triumph in Roland Garros, Novak Djokovic becomes the first tennis player to win all four Grand Slams at least twice. And the Serb already has the next big goals in mind.
Long, surprisingly, there is little evidence on Sunday that Novak Djokovic will bag his second French Open title in Paris this year. After his epic semi-final victory over sand king Rafael Nadal, the Serb loses the first two sets 6: 7 and 2: 6 against the unleashed Stefanos Tsitsipas – and seems to have his back to the wall.
“I was really a little worried. I hoped that he would find his energy again, because he was really flat in the second set, ”says coach Marián Vajda. What then follows is probably a déjà vu for many of those involved. After a short break in the cloakroom, Djokovic returns as if transformed and leaves the Greek no longer a chance. «He left the field after two sentences, I don’t know what happened there. But he suddenly came back like a different player, »feels the visibly disappointed Greek after the match.
A boy in the audience as a motivator
Djokovic does not allow his opponent a break ball from the 3rd set. “I left the field, as was the case against Musetti, and came back as a different player,” the 34-year-old knows himself. A young viewer in the audience is apparently also making a contribution to the big turnaround. “I don’t know the boy. But he was in my ear the whole game, especially when I was two sentences behind. He gave me courage, ”reveals Djokovic at the press conference.
The boy also gave him very clear instructions: “Hold your serve, go to his backhand – he literally coached me. I thought that was very cute, very nice, »said Djokovic. As a reward, the world number 1 gives his new “coach” the bat after the match point has been transformed. “That was my thanks for sticking with me and supporting me.”
Djokovic: “I’ll keep hunting”
With his second triumph in Roland Garros, Djokovic reached the next milestone in his impressive career. As the first player ever, he manages to win every Grand Slam tournament several times. «I am excited and very proud of it. (…) I couldn’t be happier or more satisfied, »admits Djokovic. And yet his hunger for success is far from satisfied. “I’ve put myself in a good position for the Golden Slam,” he emphasizes. That means: In addition to all four major tournaments, the Serb also wants to win Olympic gold this year.
If he succeeds, Djokovic will be the player with the most Grand Slam titles by the end of the year. With the triumph in Paris he moves up to one title on the current record men Federer and Nadal (20 each). «I never would have thought that. Getting these boys’ Grand Slam titles was a Mission Impossible. I mean, I’m not there, but it’s one less. ” And he wants to change that as quickly as possible: “I will continue. I will keep hunting. At the same time, I will continue to go my own way. All of us three have our own journey. “
