All smiles, Musketeers Cup at arm's length, Novak Djokovic takes his place next to Björn Borg on the official podium.
But it's been a long time since the Serbian relegated the legendary Swede and his eleven Grand Slams to dusty memories.
Sunday afternoon, at the Roland-Garros Central, the world No. 1 overthrew Stefanos Tsitsipas (6-7 (6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in 4:11) for s '' gift his 19th Major and become the first superman of the Open era to lift the four most prestigious trophies in tennis at least twice.
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The Greek Apollo was blazing for two sets and believed himself blessed by the gods before suffering the inexorable, inescapable, thunderbolt of Zeus, surprisingly extinct for two hours.
“I learned that winning two sets is useless, blows the No. 5 at ATP.
He left the court with two innings against him, I don't know what happened, but when he came back it was like a different player.
He looked better physically, in anticipation he could suddenly read my game better… ”
The Big Three have won 17 of the last 18 Grand Slam tournaments
The Athenian is undoubtedly promised a beautiful destiny.
"He will come out stronger and win Grand Slams," predicted the new king of Paris.
But for now, despite the emergence of young heroes, the future continues to be written in the past.
The Parthenon Djokovic, 34, sits atop an acropolis where only Nadal, 35, and Federer, 39, can invite each other.
Read also Roland-Garros: Djokovic, at the origins of his fury to win
Just look at the ATP tablets.
The Serbian, the Spaniard or the Swiss have dominated 17 of the last 18 Majors.
If he opened the doors in Masters 1000, where he has nothing more to prove, the trio continues to lock the essential.
In Grand Slam, these three built columns which every day approach a little closer to the sky.
A height far too dizzying for ordinary people.
Barely nine months ago, on his Roland-Garros soil, the Majorcan pushed open the door of Federer's temple and his 20 Grand Slams on the pediment.
We even imagined the bull of Manacor crowning the divine Basel from his next descent on earth.
His steel statue was already ready in the alleys of the Porte d'Auteuil.
See you next year, and the next year 💪 # RolandGarros |
@DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/ls2qn85A49
- Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 13, 2021
And now Djokovic, the time of an Australian quest and a Parisian conquest where he debunked the local icon, is not far from engraving a third name in rare cases.
The legend continues to be written before our incredulous eyes.
From July 11, the Serbian can enjoy his 20 on the grass of Wimbledon and bite the apple of September 21 in New York.
Meet in London or New York
Unless the unalterable "RodGER" succeeds in his resurrection operation in his English garden.
Before writing the final word and letting the new generation flourish after having sacrificed so many others on the altar of their extraordinary exploits since the dawn of the twenty-first century, these three sacred monsters will take care to push back the limits of their eternity.
It will therefore be time to try to designate the largest. The highest. The Strongest. “The only justice of the peace, once you've won all four, is the total,” says Arnaud Clément. Djokovic and Federer also want to climb Mount Olympus in Tokyo where Nadal sits. As of June 13, 2020, despite a late march, Djokovic advantage, who will start his 324th week on the top of the world. “I don't want to stop there,” he slips. And I would like to come back to Paris once or twice… ”
