The 36-year-old Serbian defeated Casper Ruud in a straight-set victory, surpassing his longtime rival Rafael Nadal’s tally of 22 majors.
With three Roland Garros titles to his identify, along with 10 Australian Open trophies, seven Wimbledons, and three US Open triumphs, Djokovic stands as the only participant to have gained every of the 4 Grand Slams on not less than three events. As he prepares to reclaim the world primary rating on Monday, he’ll start his 388th week on the pinnacle of males’s tennis.
“I do not need to say that I’m the best, as a result of I really feel it is disrespectful in direction of all the nice champions in numerous eras of our sport that was performed in fully completely different means than it’s performed right this moment,” mentioned Djokovic.
“So I go away these type of discussions of who’s the best to another person. I’ve in fact enormous religion and confidence and perception in myself and for all the pieces that I’m and who I’m and what I’m able to doing.”
Nevertheless, regardless of changing into the oldest ever French Open champion, he warned he’s removed from completed.
When requested if he may win 24 or 25 majors, he replied: “Why not?”
Eleven of his Grand Slam titles have been secured since he turned 30.
Retirement is a good distance off for a person who has already seen Roger Federer hold up his racquet with 20 majors to his identify whereas 37-year-old Nadal, sitting out the remainder of the season with harm, has already mentioned 2024 will likely be his final as knowledgeable.
“After all the journey remains to be not over,” mentioned Djokovic. “I really feel if I am successful Slams, why even take into consideration ending the profession that already has been happening for 20 years.
“So I nonetheless really feel motivated, I nonetheless really feel impressed to play the most effective tennis in these tournaments. These are those that depend I suppose essentially the most in historical past of our sport.
“I now stay up for Wimbledon,” added Djokovic the place he’ll look to equal Federer’s file of eight titles.
Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic hailed the Serbian star for having the ability to set up particular “software program” each time a Grand Slam event rolls round.
“It is fascinating to see, as a result of typically you suppose, okay, now you could have 23. However he is gonna discover, once more, some type of motivation to win 24, perhaps 25, who is aware of the place is the top,” mentioned Ivanisevic.
“He is protecting his physique nice, he is in nice form. He is unbelievable, and he is nonetheless shifting like a cat on the court docket. He is there, like a Ninja.”
Nevertheless, the previous Wimbledon winner admitted Djokovic is “not a simple man” such is his depth to make historical past.
“Particularly when one thing’s not going his means. However we’re right here to place our again and to get overwhelmed, we’re right here for him to really feel higher, for him to carry out higher.
“Generally not simple. Generally it’s extremely sophisticated. However total, that is for what you reside, , the tournaments like this, the ending like this.”
Djokovic arrived in Paris having endured a mediocre clay court docket season, failing to get past the quarter-finals of any of the three occasions he performed.
There was the added fear of the recurrence of a longstanding wrist harm.
“The day we arrived right here, he was higher, he was extra motivated, he was extra hungry. Each day he performed higher and higher,” mentioned Ivanisevic who believes Djokovic’s victory over world primary Carlos Alcaraz within the semi-finals was key in his title push.
“I believed in opposition to Alcaraz one-and-a-half hours he performed unbelievable sensible and unbelievable tennis,” mentioned Ivanisevic.
“And right this moment he simply end what we began truly in Monte Carlo, to practise, and now it is payday. We money the cheque.”
(With inputs from AFP)
