Jokic capped a dominating postseason performance by pouring in 28 points and pulling down 16 rebounds as the Nuggets beat the Miami Heat 94-89 at a seething Ball Arena to claim the best-of-seven Finals 4-1.

“It’s got to be,” smiled Jokic, when asked if this was the golden era for Serbian athletes. “Sport is something in Serbia that put us in front of everybody.”

“Now we have Djokovic, probably the best ever, and now we have an NBA championship. I think it is a very good moment to be a Serbian.”

Djokovic stormed to his third title at Roland Garros on Sunday, beating Casper Ruud in straight sets to stand alone at the summit of men’s tennis with his 23 majors.

Jokic was the clear choice to win the Bill Russell Trophy as the NBA Finals MVP after the Serbian big man averaged 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds and 7.2 assists.

“I think if you want to be a success you need to be bad, then you need to be good, then when you are good you need to figure it out,” said Jokic, whose trophy case also includes two NBA MVP Awards.

“There are these steps you need to fill, there are no shortcuts. It’s journey and I’m glad I am part of that journey.”

The 41st pick in the 2014 NBA draft, Jokic becomes the lowest-drafted player in NBA history to be named Finals MVP and the first player drafted outside of the top 15 to win the award.

“I watched Jokic come in early and work and I think he’s been described as a chubby teenager,” said Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke after accepting the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.

“But they underestimated his resolve and his work ethic. He’s an unbelievable player. I’ve watched a lot of basketball, played a lot of basketball, Jokic is unbelievable.” – Rappler.com

The Serbian has now won the most Grand Slams of any male player and is the only one to have won each of the four – Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open – at least three times.

But of the 23 Grand Slams, only three have come at the French Open with rival Rafael Nadal, who has 22 majors, dominating on clay with 14 wins in Paris.

Djokovic has also won ten times in Australia and three times at the US Open while triumphing seven times at Wimbledon.

“It is no coincidence that I won the 23rd Grand Slam here in Paris because this tournament was really in my entire career the toughest to win,” Djokovic, who has played in the Paris final seven times, said to a cheering crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier.

“A lot of emotions here on this court, also off the court,” he said, after lifting the trophy aloft.

“Thanks one more time for a special atmosphere, a marvellous one. I am very happy to share this special moment of my career with you in this special stadium.”

The 36-year-old won the title without Nadal in the tournament, with the Spaniard missing the Grand Slam due to an injury and surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the year.

Djokovic, who also eclipsed Nadal as the oldest champion in Paris after a tough fortnight, has now won 21 consecutive Grand Slam tournament matches.

He won last year’s Wimbledon, missed the U.S. Open, and won in Australia in January before Sunday’s triumph in Paris.

“I am being fortunate in my life to win 23 Grand Slams. It is an incredible feeling,” he said.

“Whatever you are pursuing, tennis or anything else, I was a seven-year-old dreaming I would win Wimbledon and become No. 1 one day.”

“One thing is for sure, I felt I had the power to create my own destiny. I felt it with every cell in my body.”

Djokovic can now extend his lead in Grand Slam victories with the season moving over to grass and Wimbledon, where he will bid for an eighth title. – Rappler.com

The Serb beat Casper Ruud, 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-5, to eclipse Rafael Nadal’s mark of 22 Grand Slam titles and extend his advantage over the now-retired Roger Federer, who won 20 majors.

The trio have dominated men’s tennis in the last two decades with a collective 65 Grand Slam titles and divide opinion among their loyal fanbases and analysts about who deserves to be known as the best of the lot.

But it is Djokovic who is currently the last man standing among the “Big Three,” with Nadal effectively out for the season following hip muscle surgery, although the Serbian played down the significance of his latest crown.

“I don’t want to say that I’m the greatest,” Djokovic told reporters.

“It’s disrespectful towards great champions in other eras. Each great champion of his generation has left a huge mark and paved the way.”

“I leave these discussions to someone else.”

The 36-year-old won his first Grand Slam title in 2008 when Federer had already claimed 13 of his 20 crowns and Nadal’s era of unprecedented dominance was underway on the Parisian clay, with the Spaniard primed to make inroads on the other surfaces.

“I’ve always compared myself to these guys, the two greatest rivals in my career,” Djokovic said.

“I’ve said before they have defined me as a player. All the success I have, they contributed to it in a way… the countless hours of thinking what it takes to beat them.”

“It’s amazing to know I’m one ahead of Rafa but at the same time everyone writes their own history. I think everyone has a unique journey they should embrace and stick to but of course the three of us and Andy (Murray), we reached the golden era.”

Djokovic’s rise up the overall tally gathered pace in 2011 when he won three majors, a feat he went on to repeat four years later to get into double figures.

The Serbian’s steady progress in the last few seasons is a testament to his mental strength and physical conditioning, even as his fellow contenders for the GOAT title began to feel the effects of their long careers.

Federer brought his career to an end last year at the age of 41 after winning 20 major titles, while the 36-year-old Nadal may face a uphill task to swell his tally, with 2024 likely to be his final year on the tour.

Djokovic has only gotten better with age and his victory over Ruud extended his win-loss record in Grand Slam finals in his 30s to 11-2.

The Serbian’s coach Goran Ivanisevic said he hoped Nadal could return and win another major but had no doubt Djokovic had more titles in him to stay ahead with the calendar slam now a real possibility.

“I’m really sorry Rafa is not here, but I said a long time ago, before even I became member of Djokovic’s team that him and Rafa, they’re going to go over 22,” Ivanisevic said.

“I’m hoping Rafa comes back and wins one more and Novak is the only player who can win a calendar Grand Slam. He was one match away two years ago, so he has a chance this year.”

“It’s still a long way, but Grand Slams are the goal now. I don’t know how many, but he has in his body a lot more.” – Rappler.com

The Serbian is now the only male player to have won each of the four Grand Slams – Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open – at least three times.

But of the 23 Grand Slams, only three have come at the French Open with rival Rafael Nadal, who has 22 majors, dominating on clay with 14 wins in Paris.

Djokovic has also won 10 times in Australia and three times at the US Open while triumphing seven times at Wimbledon.

“It is no coincidence that I won the 23rd Grand Slam here in Paris because this tournament was really in my entire career the toughest to win,” Djokovic, who has played in the Paris final seven times, said to a cheering crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier.

“A lot of emotions here on this court, also off the court,” he said, after lifting the trophy aloft.

Djokovic won the title without Nadal in the tournament, with the Spaniard missing the Grand Slam due to an injury and surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the year.

“I am being fortunate in my life to win 23 Grand Slams. It is an incredible feeling,” he said.

Fourth seed Ruud, playing in his third major final after Roland Garros and the US Open, got off to the better start with an early break.

Djokovic, however, rallied back to win the tiebreak, then cruised through the second set and tightened his grip when it mattered in the third.

The 36-year-old third seed sealed an emphatic win when Ruud sent a forehand wide on the second match point.

Djokovic can now extend his lead in Grand Slam victories with the season moving over to grass and Wimbledon, where he will bid for an eighth title.

– Rappler.com

Still in a three-way tie with 20-time major champion Roger Federer and fellow 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in the debate on who is the greatest of all time, the Serbian can also become the first male player to claim three titles in each of the four Grand Slams.

While Djokovic, who will take part in a record 34th Grand Slam final, will have experience on his side on court Philippe Chatrier, the fourth-seeded Ruud is unlikely to be as frozen as he was in last year’s final against his mentor Rafael Nadal.

In 2021, Djokovic was on the brink of completing a calendar slam – winning all four majors in the same year – but was beaten in straight sets in the final in New York by Daniil Medvedev.

“Novak is one of the best players in the world, that’s for sure, but when you’re on the brink of history I think that adds a little bit of pressure,” three-time French Open semifinalist Alexander Zverev said.

“You remember the US Open final he had with Medvedev after beating me in the semis still. The pressure… we are all human. Novak is human. We all feel it.”

The 36-year-old has won five of the last nine Grand Slams and is confident that he can extend his streak in majors to 14 match victories after playing an unbelievable first set in his four-set win against a cramping Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals.

“I put myself in another really ideal position to win a Grand Slam,” said Djokovic, who will also snatch the world No. 1 spot from Spain’s Alcaraz if he lifts the Musketeers Cup.

With the fickle French Open crowd often backing the underdog, Djokovic might face a few jeers, but he could not care less.

“I don’t mind. It’s not the first (time), probably not the last. I’ll just keep winning,” he said.

Ruud has never taken a set from Djokovic in their four previous meetings but the Norwegian has had a smooth run into the final, playing flawlessly, if not spectacularly.

On paper, the 24-year-old Ruud has prepared for every scenario.

“I’m just going to try to play without too much emotion. I think that’s when I can play my best tennis when I don’t overthink the situation and think too much that I have to win this match, because then things go on automatic mode,” said Ruud, who will be in his third Grand Slam final.

“Of course if I was to maybe win a set or be closer to victory, you’re going to feel the nerves and then it’s important to be mentally prepared.

“I’m going to try to visualize myself in both winning and losing situations on Sunday and see if I can have a game plan ready.” – Rappler.com

Swiatek has now lost only two out of 26 Grand Slam matches since moving to world number one in April last year and the 22-year-old became the youngest woman to bag consecutive trophies at Roland Garros since Monica Seles, who triumphed from 1990-1992.

The US Open champion also joined Seles and Naomi Osaka as the only women in the Open Era to emerge victorious in each of their first four major finals but she was made to work hard despite a fast start.

“First of all congratulations to Karolina,” Swiatek said. “I knew it would be a tough match. I hope you’re going to have many more finals. Congratulations to your team. I know how much teams are important I wouldn’t be here without my team. To my team, sorry for being such a pain in the… I’ll try to do better.”

“I know we won this tournament but it’s not easy. Being on tour for two weeks, it’s tough. Thank you to my family as well; so many came from Poland and I feel the love. It’s not just about the performance, I really love being here it’s my favorite place on the tour,” she continued.

Tough climb to top

Swiatek worked the angles superbly from the baseline and blazed ahead 3-0 on a warm and windy afternoon on Court Philippe Chatrier before world No. 43 Muchova settled the nerves, got on the board and threatened to break back.

Muchova had chances in the fifth game of the first set but the 26-year-old struggled to finish them off and found herself in more trouble in the next before bailing herself out with a tight hold thanks to a delightful drop shot and backhand winner.

The Czech, who prevailed the only time the pair faced off in Prague in 2019, launched herself into Swiatek’s second serve but sprayed far too many errors and allowed her opponent to go up a set in 44 minutes with another break.

Swiatek continued to benefit from Muchova’s mistakes from the baseline and at the net to build a commanding 3-0 lead in the second set but the Czech fired a rocket of a forehand to break back and then level at 3-3.

Muchova began to grow in confidence and attacked with more accuracy to heap pressure on Swiatek, who hit a double fault to gift Muchova the chance to even things up in the next game but there was yet another twist in the tale.

After breaking back to make it 5-5, Swiatek surrendered her serve again but saved two set points before Muchova pulled off a magical volley at full stretch to set up another and finally forced a decider.

Muchova was brimming with self-belief, having edged Aryna Sabalenka in a three-setter in the semi-finals, and went ahead in the final set, but Swiatek shrugged off the early break and wrestled back the momentum by winning three straight games.

The Polish top seed dropped serve in the seventh game but broke back instantly and produced a tight hold to inch closer to the title, which she wrapped up when Muchova double faulted to spark emotional scenes on center court.

It was Muchova’s first defeat against a top-three opponent in six meetings.

“I’ll keep it short because it’s a bit emotional,” she said, with tears flowing and the crowd chanting her name. “It was so close yet so far but I played one of the best, Iga. I want to congratulate you out loud again and your team.”

“To my box. When I look at those people, I feel I’m the winner. Thank you. I hope this is only the beginning. We have come a long way.”

Swiatek’s third win in Paris put her level with modern day three-time champions Serena Williams, Monica Seles and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario. – Rappler.com

Ruud booked his spot in the final for a second consecutive year by cruising past German 22nd seed Alexander Zverev, 6-3, 6-4, 6-0, and will aim to win a maiden Grand Slam when he meets 22-time major champion Novak Djokovic on Sunday.

History-chasing Djokovic is aiming to leapfrog Ruud’s 2022 Roland Garros conqueror Rafa Nadal in the men’s overall tally and the 24-year-old Norwegian said the final would be his toughest challenge of the year.

But Ruud has a plan to go the distance.

“It’s just a matter of not thinking I ‘need’ to win this match, there’s a really big ‘need’ for me to win this match. That’s a word I try to avoid,” Ruud, who has never beaten Djokovic in four meetings, told reporters.

“Obviously in the beginning of the tournament, that’s what you feel more and what you think about more, this is important to try to get this win and get going in the tournament.

“But now I’m in the final. It’s been a great two weeks no matter what happens on Sunday and I’m going to of course give it my all, but sometimes you play your best tennis when you don’t think too much. It just goes into automatic mode.

“I’m just going to try to go out there and know that it’s going to be a long match, a marathon match, and play point by point, give it my all. Let’s see how that goes.”

‘Best tennis of the year’

Ruud’s season has ebbed and flowed but he has peaked during his deep run in Paris to reach a third final in his last five Grand Slam tournaments.

“I think this match and the quarterfinal was one of the best matches I played this year, so that’s a good confidence boost going into the final,” Ruud said. 

“I know I’m going to have to play similar or better if I want to have any chance.”

“I’m probably playing the best tennis of the year so far. It’s been a tough one, but this sort of changes a little bit everything and how the year has been going,” he added.

“I’m going to see if I can try to use last year’s defeat in the final as a motivation… to try to play well on Sunday.”

Underdog again

A flawless Ruud easily dismantled Zverev in a battle of big-hitters.

Ruud, who was swept aside by Rafa Nadal in straight sets as the Spaniard won his 14th crown on the Parisian clay last year, endured an up-and-down 2023 season until his return to Roland Garros where he has returned to peak form.

But the 24-year-old will face the ultimate test in his quest for a maiden Grand Slam when he meets Djokovic.

“It’s going to be tough this year against Novak. Two of the toughest in history and will be the underdog again,” Ruud said.

“I know Novak is trying to be the greatest. I’m going to try my best. He’s going for Grand Slam number 23 and I’m going for my first, so there’s a big difference.”

Third time a charm?

Ruud swapped early breaks with Zverev before turning up the heat on a warm evening on Court Philippe Chatrier by pounding the German with some vicious, spin-heavy forehands to go up 5-2 en route to claiming the opening set.

Zverev, playing in a third straight Roland Garros semifinal at the scene of his season-ending ankle injury last year, wasted an early opening in the next set and found himself in trouble as fourth seed Ruud snatched another break in the seventh game.

Ruud extended his lead in the match and continued to control the rallies from behind the baseline to frustrate an error-prone Zverev in the next set, before storming into a third Grand Slam final in his last five events going back to Roland Garros 2022.

“I didn’t come here thinking I was the favorite to reach the final,” said Ruud, who also made the US Open title clash last year where he was beaten by Alcaraz.

“I was trying to take one match at a time. Let’s see how it goes from there. I was always thinking about how to defend this final spot… hopefully third time can be the charm for me.”

Victory put Ruud in elite company, as he became the fourth Scandinavian man to reach three or more Grand Slam finals, after Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander and Stefan Edberg. – Rappler.com

The highly anticipated contest between the world No. 1 and the two-time Roland Garros champion was suddenly effectively over after two high-octane sets – the kind of feeling you get at a disco when the music is turned off and the lights are switched on.

“Obviously this was a big win today under the circumstances that were obviously a little bit strange, especially in the third and fourth. But a win is a win,” Djokovic told a press conference after his 46th semifinal at a major.

On Sunday, he will look to also become the first man to win each Grand Slam at least three times as he faces last year’s runner-up Casper Ruud of Norway.

A flawless Ruud returned to the French Open final for a second year running by dismantling German 22nd seed Alexander Zverevm 6-3, 6-4 ,6-0, in a battle of big-hitters.

Being at the foot of the winner’s platform in Paris is enough for Djokovic, who will start Sunday’s showdown as the overwhelming favorite.

“I put myself in another really ideal position to win a Grand Slam. That’s basically what still drives me when I wake up in the morning and think about the season and think about things I want to achieve,” he said.

34th Grand Slam final

“I’m thinking really just to win another Grand Slam title here on Sunday, and I’m so close. I know it. I know the feeling. I’ve had this feeling quite a few times in my career,” said Djokovic.

“So I know how I need to handle myself, my emotions, my day tomorrow, and after tomorrow, and to approach the finals in the best possible way.”

It will be Djokovic’s 34th Grand Slam final and even if he struggled against Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2021 to claim his second title in Paris and that he will be under tremendous pressure, the Serbian knows he will start with a slight advantage.

“Pressure is always on my shoulders, so it’s not going to be different. But it’s part of my sport, part of my life. I will play someone that already has been in a Grand Slam finals… [but] never won a title,” he said.

“But again, experience on my side, but does it win matches? I don’t think so. I just have to recover well, be prepared for another long battle, and, you know, after the finals, if I win, let’s talk about history.”

And the music will be back on and the lights off at the disco.

Alcaraz breaks down

An ailing Alcaraz ended the clash of titans in anti-climatic fashion.

Alcaraz had just leveled the contest when disaster struck as he limped to his bench holding his right leg at 1-1 in the third set.

While he continued playing, the US Open champion was clearly hampered by cramps but Djokovic was merciless, dropping only one of 12 games to book a spot for Sunday’s final showdown. 

“It’s been really tough for me, honestly. I disappointed myself honestly in a match like this,” said Alcaraz, who skipped this year’s Australian Open because of a hamstring injury.

“The first set and the second set were really, really intense and I started to cramp in my arm. At the beginning of the third set I started to cramp every part of my body, not only the legs. The arms, as well, every part of the legs.”

‘He’s a fighter’

Djokovic will play his seventh at Roland Garros, where he lifted the Musketeers’ Cup twice, in 2016 and 2021.

The 36-year-old was facing the ultimate test against Alcaraz, who had bulldozed through the draw, only for the machine to break down in abrupt fashion.

“Tough luck for Carlos. Obviously at this level, the last thing you want is cramps and physical problems in the last stages of a Grand Slam,” said Djokovic.

“It was probably difficult for him to decide whether he should retire or continue until the last point but he’s a fighter, so respect to him for that.”

The much-awaited clash had started with Djokovic going for the throat and breaking for 3-1 before saving four break points and taking the opening set after almost an hour.

Spectacular shots

With Mike Tyson watching from the stands, both players traded punches and Djokovic was on the ropes in the second set, with Alcaraz playing several spectacular shots.

After an exchange of breaks, the 20-year-old Spaniard leveled as Djokovic overcooked a forehand and it appeared that the momentum had shifted.

“It is not easy to maintain that intensity,” said Djokovic, who has now won his last 100 Grand Slam matches in which he bagged the opening set.

“Towards the end of the second set he was the better player. I had to be aggressive, to take the ball early otherwise he would be the aggressive one. He is very fast, very dynamic so I had to match that and do even better, which was very exhausting.”

It was, however, the youngest player’s body that capitulated first in a contest that could have been a classic. – Rappler.com

She will play on Saturday the unseeded Karolina Muchova, who saved a match point before overcoming second seed Aryna Sabalenka, 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 7-5, to end the Belarusian’s hopes of becoming world No. 1.

Swiatek, who lifted the Suzanne Lenglen Cup last year and in 2020, was put through the wringer by Haddad Maia but held her nerve in a tense tiebreak to see off the 14th seed’s challenge.

“She has a really nice game for clay courts with a lot of top spin,” Swiatek said of Haddad Maia, who beat the Pole in their only other meeting in Toronto last year.

“She can also play flat and aggressive. She’s a fighter. For every match, she played fierce.”

Last unseeded player

Sabalenka would have taken over top spot in the rankings by winning the title in Paris, but the Australian Open champion wasted her opportunity at 5-2 in the third set against Muchova and bowed out after losing the last five games in a row.

That made Muchova only the third player ranked outside the top 40 to reach the Roland Garros final after Jelena Ostapenko (2017) and Swiatek (2020) – both of whom won the title.

The last unseeded player left in the men’s and women’s draw, Muchova, who fought back from the mid-200s into the top 50 after an injury in 2021, was at her skillful best to subdue the big-hitting Sabalenka.

“I don’t really know what happened,” Muchova said. “The atmosphere, the people pushing me in all the match. I just keep fighting and it worked. I really don’t know what happened. I am so happy.”

Mixed doubles champion

There was light at the end of the tunnel for Japan’s Miyu Kato after a difficult few days, as she put her women’s doubles disqualification behind her to claim the mixed doubles crown with Germany’s Tim Puetz.

The pair rallied to beat Canada’s Bianca Andreescu and New Zealander Michael Venus, 4-6, 6-4 (10-6), in the final.

Kato and her Indonesian partner Aldila Sutjiadi had been disqualified from the women’s doubles in the third round when Kato hit a ball down the court between points, inadvertently striking a ball girl. That led to the Asian pair’s disqualification, leaving Kato in tears.

“It’s been challenging mentally after the disqualification. I want to thank everyone for the heartfelt messages of support,” Kato said.

“I was able to use all the positive energy so I could be here today. Thanks to Aldila and all the Indonesian fans. I’m doing my best so we can one day return and claim the women’s doubles title.”

The action resumes on Friday with the men’s semifinals, as world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz meets 22-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and last year’s runner-up Casper Ruud faces Alexander Zverev. – Rappler.com

Zverev was in excruciating pain after suffering a serious ankle injury during his Roland Garros semifinal against Rafa Nadal in 2022 and had surgery to repair his ligaments.

The German’s return was further delayed in September due to a bone edema issue and he only began playing pain-free earlier this season.

Zverev showed glimpses of his peak form on Wednesday as he beat unseeded Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, in the quarterfinal and the 22nd seed said the agony of last year was not on his mind anymore.

“I don’t think about it. I’m going on court to win tennis matches. I’m not thinking about what happened last year. I have to talk about it a lot obviously, that’s fine,” Zverev said.

“That’s everybody’s job, but I’m here to win tennis matches. I’m here to go deep in a Grand Slam.

“Grand Slams are tennis history. That’s what you play for. I think the two most important things in tennis are Grand Slams and the Olympic Games.

“When you’re in a semifinal or final of either of those, I think that’s very different than being in a final of another tournament.”

Zverev said Roland Garros was a tournament he increasingly looked forward to as his comeback gathered pace.

“I’m happy to be playing the way I’m playing here in Paris,” the 26-year-old said. “I’m extremely happy with how things are going, but the tournament is not over yet.

“There are still potentially two very difficult matches ahead, and I’m looking forward to that.” – Rappler.com