The 24-year-old Norwegian has never defeated Djokovic in four meetings and has yet to win a set. Ruud was runner-up to Rafael Nadal in the 2022 final before also losing the championship match at the US Open to Alcaraz. I have to be prepared for another long battle, and after the final, if I win, let's talk about history.' 'Experience is on my side, but does it win matches? I don't think so.

I'm thinking really just to win another Grand Slam title here on Sunday, and I'm so close. Rod Laver accomplished it twice, the last coming in 1969.ĭjokovic, however, refuses to contemplate such dominance, wary of how the pressure doomed his last bid to pocket all four Slams in the same year when he lost the 2021 US Open final to Daniil Medvedev. Victory on Sunday would place him once again halfway to an historic calendar Grand Slam, a sweep of all four majors in the same year which has only ever been achieved by two men. History is always something that's hovering over me,' said Djokovic, the 20 winner in Paris and now the oldest finalist in 93 years.ĭjokovic, playing his 34th Grand Slam final, can also return to the world number one ranking with victory over Ruud, replacing Carlos Alcaraz, the man he defeated in the semi-finals. 'The only thing I can say is that I'm very focused. In the women's game, only Margaret Court, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams can make a similar boast. The 36-year-old Serb can set numerous landmarks in what will be his seventh championship match at Roland Garros.Īs well as breaking the 22-Slam tie he shares with Rafael Nadal, he can become both the tournament's oldest champion and the only man to win all four majors on at least three occasions.

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