French Open final 2023: Novak Djokovic plays Casper Ruud in Roland Garros men’s showpiece

Novak Djokovic, a two-time champion at the French Open in 2016 and 2021, is set to compete against Casper Ruud of Norway in the men’s singles final at Roland Garros in Paris. The final will take place on Sunday, June 11, at 13:30 BST. Extensive coverage of the event will be available, including live text updates starting at 13:00 BST, as well as radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and the Sport News Center website and app.

Djokovic, aged 36, is eager to make tennis history by becoming the first man to win 23 Grand Slam titles. His opponent, Ruud, aged 24, aims to secure his first Grand Slam victory. A win for Djokovic would surpass Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 Grand Slam wins.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Djokovic stated, “I feel privileged to have the opportunity to make history in the sport I love. Tennis has given me so much, and it’s an incredible motivation for me to pursue this milestone. I am focused and determined to lift the trophy once again.”

Djokovic is currently in an advantageous position to claim victory and his third French Open title. If successful, he would also become the first male player to win each of the four Grand Slam tournaments at least three times.

Reflecting on his past matches, Djokovic remarked, “I’ve been fortunate to have many matches where history was on the line. It’s flattering, but my primary goal is to win. I take pride in my accomplishments, but I remain present and focused on the task at hand. The job is not finished, and I have another match to win.”

Ruud, who reached the finals of the French Open and the US Open in 2022 but fell short on both occasions, is determined to improve upon his previous performances. Despite acknowledging the challenge posed by Djokovic, Ruud stated, “I’m playing for my first Grand Slam title, while he is playing for his 23rd. I will approach the match without pressure and savor the moment. It feels great to be in the final again, something I didn’t anticipate at the start of the tournament.”

Although Djokovic and Ruud have never faced each other in a Grand Slam, they have crossed paths four times on the ATP Tour, with Djokovic emerging victorious in all encounters without dropping a set.

Looking ahead to the final, Ruud acknowledged the difficulty of the task, saying, “Playing against Novak is the toughest challenge I’ll face this year. He consistently elevates his game in Grand Slam events. I haven’t defeated him before, so I need to devise a better game plan. To have a chance, I’ll have to perform at my absolute best.”

The journey to the final for both players has been noteworthy. Djokovic progressed through the early rounds without dropping a set, triumphing over several opponents, including Karen Khachanov and Carlos Alcaraz in a physically demanding semi-final match. Ruud, on the other hand, overcame setbacks, rallying from a set down in multiple matches, including a win over sixth-seeded Holger Rune. In the semi-finals, he secured a convincing victory against 22nd seed Alexander Zverev.

It remains to be seen if Djokovic can claim another Grand Slam title and secure his place in tennis history, or if Ruud can spring a surprise and capture his maiden Grand Slam championship. The stage is set for an exciting finale at the French Open.

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