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Djokovic rallies to claim another Grand Slam title

PARIS • For the second time in six years, Novak Djokovic is halfway to a calendar year sweep of all four Grand Slam titles after winning the French Open for a second time on Sunday.

The 34-year-old from Serbia dug deep into his reserves of resilience to hit back from two sets down against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas to win 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 and increase his Grand Slam tally to 19.

That leaves him only one behind the men’s record 20 held by Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer and there is nothing to suggest the world No. 1 won’t surpass his two career rivals.

He can already claim something neither of those two can, after his win over the 22-year-old Tsitsipas made him the first player in the professional era to win each of the four Grand Slams at least twice.

Having already claimed the Australian Open this year, he has a shot at becoming the first man to win all four majors in the same year since Rod Laver in 1969 and he could even complete a “Golden Slam” by adding the Olympic title in Tokyo.

“Everything is possible,” Djokovic told reporters.

“I’ve achieved some things that a lot of people thought it would be not possible for me to achieve. Everything is possible, and I did put myself in a good position to go for the Golden Slam. But you know, I was in this position in 2016 as well.

“It ended up in a third-round loss in Wimbledon.”

Wimbledon returns later this month after last year’s tournament was cancelled because of the pandemic.

Djokovic won it in 2019 and will be the favourite to add a sixth title on the grass, after which he will turn his thoughts to the Olympic Games and the U.S. Open.

“Obviously, I will enjoy this win and then think about Wimbledon in a few days’ time. I don’t have an issue to say that I’m going for the title in Wimbledon,” he said.

“Of course, I am. I won in ’18 and ’19 there. Hopefully, I can keep that run going.”

As far as chasing down Federer and Nadal, Djokovic said he has always considered it a possibility despite the fact that when he won his second Grand Slam title at the 2011 Australian Open, Nadal had nine and Federer was on 16.

“I never thought it was a mission impossible to reach the Grand Slams of these guys,” Djokovic said. “I mean, I’m not there, but it’s one less. But they are still playing.

“Obviously, they’re playing great, especially Rafa with his level. We all still have opportunities at Wimbledon, all the other slams. I’ll keep on going. I’ll keep on chasing. At the same time, I’ll keep on paving my own path.”

Sunday’s triumph did not look likely when Djokovic trailed by two sets against an inspired Tsitsipas — the effort of beating Nadal in a seismic semifinal appearing to catch up with him.

But Djokovic said some words of wisdom from a young fan helped him out.

“I don’t know the boy. He was in my ear the entire match basically, especially when I was two sets to love down. He was encouraging me. He was actually giving me tactics,” said Djokovic, who presented the excited fan with his racket at

IN BRIEF

❚ French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova completed a rare championship sweep at Roland Garros on Sunday after joining fellow Czech Katerina Siniakova to capture the doubles title. Krejcikova, 25, followed up winning her first singles Grand Slam title on Saturday by becoming the first woman since Mary Pierce in 2000 to win both championships at the clay-court event. A total of seven women have completed the sweep at the French Open after Krejcikova joined Siniakova in posting a 6-4, 6-2 win over Bethanie Mattek-sands of the United States and Iga Swiatek of Poland. Krejcikova secured a 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the singles final on Saturday. She became the first Czech Republic woman to win the French Open since Hana Mandlikova in 1981.

❚ Marin Cilic of Croatia beat Felix Auger-aliassime of Canada 7-6(2), 6-3 on Sunday to win the ATP 250 Stuttgart men’s singles final.

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE ... BUT YOU KNOW, I WAS IN THIS POSITION IN 2016 AS WELL. IT ENDED UP IN A THIRDROUND LOSS IN WIMBLEDON.

the end.

“He was like, ‘Hold your serve, get an easy first ball, then dictate, go to his backhand.’ He was coaching me, literally. I found that very cute, very nice.”

It has become a familiar feeling for Tsitsipas, to be so close and yet so far. Tsitsipas led Djokovic in the Rome Masters quarter-finals this year but lost.

He also pushed 13-time French Open champion Nadal to three tight sets in the Barcelona Open final, but again fell short.

However, the 22-year-old, who was looking to become the first Greek player to win a Grand Slam title, is confident he’s on the right path to break the dominance of the two players who have won 11 of the last 12 majors.

“I’m able to play for titles like this. Despite my loss today, I have faith in my game. I very much believe I can get to that point very soon,” Tsitsipas told reporters.

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2021-06-14T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-14T07:00:00.0000000Z

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