Mohammadi News Agency News – Features – Photo
MNA Sports Desk: This year, Novak Djokovic wins his maiden French Open title. He has imposed a vicious French Open thrashing on Andy Murray to become only the third man in history to hold all four titles concurrently.
American Don Budge (1938-39) and Rod Laver (1962-69) are the only others to have reached the feat. Novak Djokovic got his French Open title at the 12th time of asking. And his runaway 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-4 triumph lifted him into a group of only eight men to have finished a career grand slam.
Drawing a heart with his row on the renowned Roland Garros clay after a three hour, three minute battle, Djokovic elated in his 12th major success.
“This is great, after all the rain, the sun. This is a dream to finally win the French Open.”said Djokovic. Djokovic has now crushed Murray in five major finals and in 13 of their past 15 matches.
For 38 minutes, the duration of the first set, it seemed possible Murray would overturn the sequence and become the first British male champion here since Fred Perry 80 years ago. But dreams of that eminent victory were nothing more than a mirage as Djokovic overcame a tentative start to underline his status as the world’s premier player.
Djokovic’s magnificent dozen is comprised of six Australian titles, three Wimbledons, two US Opens and French. Started as a heavyweight contest with Murray in the ascendant, ended as a rout with Murray mentally and physically broken.
“What he’s achieved in the last 12 months is phenomenal, winning all four slams in one year is an amazing achievement,” Murray said.
“This is something that is so rare in tennis. It’s not happened for an extremely long time and it’s going to take a long time for it to happen again.” He added.
Murray had spent five hours longer on court than Djokovic to reach the final and needed four more sets to advance. And, as the contest meandered to an inevitable conclusion, Murray paid for successive five-set assignments in the opening two rounds.
Unfazed by a rocky start and a rare dropped set, Djokovic seized control from early in the second set. Murray claimed the first set after Djokovic’s forehand and nerves betrayed him.
Immune to a frenzied Philippe Chatrier gallery firmly in Djokovic’s corner, Murray looked likely to win. That prospect was obliterated almost as swiftly as it emerged.
Feeding off the raucous crowd, Djokovic destroyed Murray in an incredible patch, breaking serve almost at will.Outplayed to the death, Murray produced signature defiance when a smiling Djokovic emerged to serve for the match at 5-2 in the fourth set.
Breaking Djokovic, he invented hopes of a wonder by saving two match points. Djokovic finally sealed it by compelling Murray into his 40th unforced error of the match.
As the first man to complete the Australian Open-French Open double since American Jim Courier in 1992, Novak earned $3 million.
