Novak Djokovic conjures remarkable comeback to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2021 French Open tennis final
In perhaps the finest title of his career, Serbian conjures remarkable comeback to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in French Open final.
In what might be the finest title of an extraordinary career, Novak Djokovic has conjured a remarkable comeback in an enthralling final against Stefanos Tsitsipas when claiming the French Open.
The ironman of world tennis was pushed to the brink by Tsitsipas in a gruelling decider when overcoming a two set deficit to prevail 6-7 (6) 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 in 4hr 11min.
Djokovic is the best mover on tour. He is blessed with the best backhand as well and his return is phenomenal. It seems certain he is now the toughest of all mentally.
The going over the past week has been as testing as can be imagined, but the Serbian proved tougher than them all in a triumph for the ages to secure a 19th major title.
“It was an electric atmosphere. I want to thank everyone who has been with me on this journey,” Djokovic said.
Incroyable ðŸ‘
— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 13, 2021
🎥: @rolandgarros | @DjokerNolepic.twitter.com/6LERB1jSQR
“I have played almost nine hours over the last 48 hours against two great champions. It was really tough physically over the last three days, but I trusted in my capabilities and knew I could do it.
“I can relate to what Stefanos is going through but he will come back stronger and win many Grand Slams.”
It is the first time the 34-year-old has come from two sets down to win a major final. Only once – to Andy Murray at the US Open in 2012 – has he beaten in the fifth set of a final.
Djokovic is now one grand slam title from joining Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on the all-time major list. Clearly the player of the past decade, he is now winning them with far more regularity than his two great rivals ahead of him.
Most Grand Slam men's singles titles (all-time)
— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 13, 2021
🇨🇠Federer - 20
🇪🇸 Nadal - 20
🇷🇸 Djokovic - 19#RolandGarros
The world no.1 is also halfway to a calendar year Grand Slam after adding the French championship to the ninth Australian Open title he claimed in Melbourne in February.
He is the only man in the Open era to win all four majors at least twice, with Federer having claimed the French Open only once and Nadal enjoying only a solitary Australian success back in 2009.
Australian legends Rod Laver and Roy Emerson are the only other men to manage the feat, though their deeds were either in or straddled the amateur and professional eras.
The difficulties that Djokovic overcame to claim this Roland Garros title add further lustre to his success, hence the claim to it being the finest of his career.
In a rarity in the modern era, he played a lead-in event in the week before the major because it was held in his homeland of Serbia.
He is the first man in more than 20 years to win an ATP Tour event in the week prior to the major and then go on to win one of tennis’s four great events.
Djokovic then trailed Lorenzo Musetti by two sets in the fourth round but the Italian teenager was so exhausted by the deciding set he pulled the pin with a couple of games remaining.
Then, in the semi-final, Djokovic managed to defeat the legendary Spaniard Rafael Nadal after conceding the first set. The third set has been described as one of the greatest ever.
Tsitsipas, seeking to become the first Greek to win a grand slam, threw all he had at Djokovic in his first major final, with his first two sets in particular superb.
The level of those sets was astonishing. At times, it appeared that Tsitsipas possessed hands from Heaven, such was his touch and the deftness of the angles he created.
Djokovic is the greatest retriever in tennis but the younger man packed enough punch and precision to penetrate the defence of the grand champion as he looked to pull off an upset.
But winning a third set against Djokovic is a challenge beyond almost everyone, particularly when he has the scent of history in his nostrils, which is clearly the case.
Tsitsipas’s level dipped from early in the third, though only slightly, but it was enough against a man who is mounting an increasingly strong case as the best to play the game.
HOW?! 🤯
— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 13, 2021
🎥: @rolandgarros | @DjokerNolepic.twitter.com/7kwmpLY9FG
The 22-year-old required treatment for a stiff lower back at the start of the fourth set. Whether the ailment had an impact is difficult to tell, for he was still throwing punches and asking questions of Djokovic right until the very last game of the final.
“I had good run here so I am happy with myself,” Tsitsipas said.
“Novak has shown what a great champion he is and I hope one day have half of what he has achieved.
“I tried my best. I had a good run and I’m happy with myself.”
A backhand winner rifled down the line when facing match point as the eventual champion attempted to serve out the match was just one example of Tsitsipas’s willingness for the fight. His time will surely come. It was a superb performance.
When the comeback king punched a high forehand winner away, a second Roland Garros title was his. It was a stunner to the end. But none are doing it better than Novak.
How the final was won
The first game of the French Open final, with Tsitsipas serving, was a tussle and set the tone for what was to come in a thrilling decider.
The Greek double-faulted on the first point he has played in a major final. He also faced break points.
But the 22-year-old closed out the game with aces in an encouraging start, indicating he was up for the fight.
Djokovic was dominant on his own serve early when holding his opening three games to love.
It took until the fourth service game for the Greek to win a point on return, such was the sublime play of the Serbian.
But after the stress of the opening game, Tsitsipas was also able to hold with little drama in a tight opening.
A set point presented for the younger man at 5-4, but Djokovic was able to stay alive when winning a high class 25-stroke rally.
The world no.1 looked to flip the script immediately by securing the first break of the final in the following game.
But Tsitsipas responded with verve to break back and force a tie-breaker to the delight of a passionate fan base.
The world no.5 (who now rises to a career-high no.4 in the rankings) raced to a 4-0 lead, only for Djokovic to rally.
A stroke of luck at the net at 3-5 fell the Serbian’s way. Not long after he had a set point. Djokovic thundered a ferocious return, but somehow his rival almost half-volleyed a full-throttled forehand winner. And two points later the first-time finalist led by a set.
Having seized the initiative, Tsitsipas carried the momentum into the second set when breaking the Serbian immediately.
A second break for the set came when Djokovic netted a forehand while trailing 2-4 to further the pressure on one of the greatest ever players.
After 1hr 43min, the Greek led the final by two sets. Tsitsipas played remarkably well in the second set, striking nine winners while making only two unforced errors.
Djokovic scarcely moved for the last point of the set and was quickly off the court for a change of clothing and, no doubt, hoping that would break his rival’s rhythm.
The 2016 Roland Garros champion showed signs of life early in the third set when, after an epic game, he was able to break Tsitsipas on his fifth chance to lead 3-1.
It proved the difference in what was another particularly hard fought set.
Having played at an extraordinary level, Tsitsipas dipped slightly.
Double faults came, so too errors when previously he was striking winners, but he was still not far off.
Djokovic had recalibrated his radar and played with renewed vigour throughout the third set and was able to serve out the set to extend the final.
Tsitsipas, who required five sets to defeat Alexander Zverev in the semi-final, received treatment to his lower back prior to the start of the fourth set.
He was set further on the back foot immediately when Djokovic broke him to start the fourth set in a game that was effectively gifted to the Serbian.
The world no.1 moved to a double-break up with a sublime backhand drop shot after another long game.
The Greek was able to hold serve twice in the fourth set to at least give himself hope that he was capable of changing the momentum in the fifth set.
He faced a break point in the opening service game of the fifth set but, unlike the previous two sets, was able to answer the challenge with a forehand winner.
But with the Greek struggling to land a first serve, another chance presented itself in the next service game and this time Djokovic was able to seize it when drawing a backhand error.
His ability to run down a drop shot in the game answered any doubts about his physical state. In contrast, his younger rival looked increasingly leaden-footed.
But Tsitsipas kept pushing with all he could to ensure Djokovic was forced to serve out the championship and pushed him right to the brink in the final game.
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