CNN
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For years, the ‘Large Three’ of males’s tennis – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – have hoovered up grand slams, every offering their very own causes to be topped as the best males’s participant of all time.
Now, with Federer retired and Nadal injured, Djokovic has a chance to stake his personal declare in that never-ending debate and win a document 23rd grand slam title on Sunday on the French Open, surpassing the mark he at present holds with Nadal.
Standing in Djokovic’s means is Casper Ruud, who has now reached three of the final 5 grand slam finals, together with final 12 months’s last at Roland Garros the place he was dismantled 6-Three 6-Three 6-Zero by Nadal.
If Djokovic can win on Sunday, he may also return to the highest of the world rankings and change into the primary male participant to win every grand slam match no less than 3 times. Such stress, nonetheless, is acquainted to the Serb, he mentioned after his semifinal victory.
“Historical past is at all times one thing that’s hovering over me, however I’m very comfortable to be on this place to put in writing historical past of this sport,” he mentioned, in keeping with the ATP Tour. “I’m simply occupied with successful the subsequent match.
“Stress is at all times on my shoulders, so it’s not going to be completely different. Nevertheless it’s a part of my sport, a part of my life, all that I do. I feel that having stress is a privilege. Nevertheless it’s a supply of motivation, as properly. Nice motivation to play properly and to achieve Sunday.”
It has been a comparatively simple path to the ultimate for Djokovic, as he has dropped simply two units – one in opposition to Karen Khachanov within the quarterfinals and one in opposition to the No. 1 seed Carlos Alcaraz within the semifinals.
That match in opposition to Alcaraz had been billed as a traditional, however in the long run, Djokovic coasted to victory after the younger Spaniard suffered from cramp initially of the third set, with the match finely poised at a set apiece.
The Serb has been imperious in grand slams over the last three years, a loss to Nadal on the French Open final 12 months the one blemish on the majors through which he has been in a position to compete.
However lining up in opposition to such a dominant participant is a well-recognized place for Ruud as he faces an opponent in search of to interrupt or lengthen their document grand slam title whole for the second consecutive 12 months.
“Final 12 months it was in opposition to Rafa, this 12 months it’s in opposition to Novak, so what are you able to say? It’s two of the hardest gamers in historical past,” Ruud mentioned after his semifinal victory, in keeping with the Guardian. “I’ve received to be the underdog like right now, taking part in with out too many emotions, simply attempt to take pleasure in.”
The 24-year-old Norwegian has by no means even received a set in opposition to Djokovic, shedding all 4 of their matches, and that gulf ensures that he’ll stroll onto court docket because the underdog, although he can now draw on the expertise of two earlier grand slam last appearances.
“It’s going to be robust, for positive,” Ruud mentioned, in keeping with the ATP Tour. “He’s taking part in for his 23rd. I’m taking part in for my first. So I’m going to only attempt to play with out stress and simply attempt to benefit from the second.
“I feel that was my mentality final 12 months (in opposition to Nadal) as properly, and it didn’t go my means. Clearly, I wish to attempt to do higher than final 12 months. Let’s see if I’ve realized one thing from the 2 earlier (main finals) that I performed final 12 months. It simply feels nice to be again.”
Regardless of coming into the match after a combined begin to the season, Ruud has discovered his kind, successful in opposition to a top-10 participant at a grand slam for the primary time when he defeated Holger Rune within the quarterfinals, and dismantling Alexander Zverev within the semifinals.
That semifinal efficiency will impress Ruud forward of the ultimate, as he seeks to upset the chances and take a primary grand slam title.