Novak Djokovic reaches record 23 grand slam titles after French Open final win

The Serbian beat Casper Ruud 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-5 at Roland Garros and now has one more grand slam title than Rafael Nadal.

CHAMPION: Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates.  (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Since his emergence, Novak Djokovic has used the dizzying bar set by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as inspiration, never doubting that he would one day rise above it. What once seemed unlikely eventually became inevitable. On another Sunday final in Paris, his seventh, Djokovic finally surpassed his great rivals in the most significant category of all as he defeated Casper Ruud 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-5 to clinch his 23rd grand slam title.

This historic victory means that Djokovic is now the men’s sole grand slam record holder alongside countless other records. After years of being blocked by the greatest claycourter of all time at the French Open, Nadal, Djokovic also now has three titles in Paris. No other man has ever won each grand slam tournament twice, but Djokovic is now the first to do so three times. He will also return to No 1 for a record-extending 388th week as the best player in the world.