Rafael Nadal lauds Novak Djokovic for ‘amazing achievement’ after French Open final win
Former French Open champion Rafael Nadal was among the first tennis personalities to publicly congratulate Novak Djokovic on a 23rd Grand Slam title on Sunday.
Djokovic beat Norwegian Casper Ruud 7-6, (1) 6-3, 7-5 in Sunday’s final to claim the 2023 French Open men’s singles title at Roland Garros.
The win marked a third French Open title for Djokovic. He also collected the Australian Open title earlier this year. Djokovic has previously won three Grand Slams in a year, but never four. He will have the opportunity to do this at Wimbledon and the US Open later this year.
“Many congrats on the amazing achievement – 23 is a number that, a few years back, was impossible to think about. You made it. Enjoy it with your family and team,” Nadal wrote on social media.
Nadal has won the French Open a record 14 times. He didn’t participate in this year’s event due to a hip injury. He has since undergone surgery and will be sidelined for up to five months.
Many congrats on this amazing achievement @DjokerNole
23 is a number that just a few years back was impossible to think about, and you made it!
Enjoy it with your family and team! 👏🏻— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 11, 2023
The 36-year-old Djokovic’s 23 Grand Slams titles comprise three French Open, thee US Open, seven Wimbledon and 10 Australian Open final wins. Nadal’s 22 was the previous record for the most men’s singles titles.
On Saturday, Polish Star Iga Swiatek beat the unseeded Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in the final of the French Open women’s singles event.
This is Swiatek’s third French Open title. She won the tournament in 2022 and 2020, too. She also has a US Open title.
“I’m just happy with what happened during these past few weeks. I don’t know what I’m capable of. So I will work day by day to play the best game possible and to develop as a player. I’m not setting any crazy records or goals for myself. I know that keeping it cool is the best way to do it for me. I’m trying more to do that,” said Swiatek.
“I don’t know how I feel. It is hard to describe – but a lot of happiness. I am very happy with what I have achieved here at Roland Garros. It was like a rollercoaster.”
Wimbledon is scheduled to start on 3 July 2023. Djokovic is the reigning men’s singles champion in London. He has won the event four times in a row. Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina is the current Wimbledon women’s singles title holder.
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