PARIS: Novak Djokovic is on a trifecta path at Roland Garros. A file 23rd main crown, the primary man to win every of the 4 majors at the least 3 times and a return to the world No. 1 rating.
A 3rd French Open title would put Djokovic midway to the calendar Grand Slam. The promise and the chances.
The Serb, nonetheless, pressed the pause button on the highway forward, saying that it was a dialog for tomorrow. Casper Ruud – affected person and persevering – is the primary order of enterprise within the closing on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Norwegian, in his second successive closing right here and third at majors, has performed Djokovic 4 occasions however has by no means taken a set off the Serb. The final time they performed was in November, within the ATP Finals.
Ruud, who got here into the clay courtroom main on the lookout for type – having solely had a good run of matches at Estoril within the 250 Sequence the place he received the title, after which in Rome Masters, the place he made the semifinal – has performed himself into the championship.
Ruud’s preparation for the ultimate began the second he bought off the courtroom after the semifinal and bought on the bike to chill down. He adopted that up with an ice tub.
“An important factor is to be prepared bodily,” the Norwegian mentioned. “You do not wish to not play your finest when you’re bodily not prepared in a approach, when you’ve got ache or are drained. Mentally I am simply going to take pleasure in a superb night time’s sleep. I feel sleep is essential.”
The No. four seed addressed the mentality. “I am not going to speak an excessive amount of to too many individuals (on Sunday),” he mentioned. “Simply going to remain in my bubble and see if I can deliver my A Sport. There are only some occasions a yr you could have the prospect to play a Slam closing, so that you higher make it value it.”
For Djokovic, in his 34th main closing, it’s routine. “I put myself in one other actually ultimate place to win a Grand Slam,” he mentioned.
“That is mainly what nonetheless drives me, once I get up within the morning and take into consideration the season and take into consideration issues I wish to obtain. The Grand Slams are what drives me probably the most. I’ll play somebody that has already been in Grand Slam finals, performed in finals however by no means received a title,” Djokovic, in his seventh Roland Garros closing, mentioned.
“Expertise is on my facet, however does it win matches? I do not assume so. I simply must get well effectively, be ready for an additional lengthy battle.”
“I hope that I am going to play my finest tennis on Sunday,” mentioned Djokovic, who authored a tactical masterclass in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz, refusing to provide the Spaniard the tempo he so relishes. “Historical past is all the time one thing that is hovering over me, however I am very pleased to be on this place to jot down historical past of this sport, however I am simply eager about successful the subsequent match.”
