PARIS: Kissing his winning trophy, Novak Djokovic becomes the third World champion in the Tennis history to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time.
The Grand Slam title was last named to Rod Laver some 47 years ago in 1969.
Djokovic grabbed his Grand Slam trophy on Sunday by winning the French Open at the 12th time.
According to media reports, the world number one Tennis star downed his old rival Andy Murray 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to claim a 12th career major and join Don Budge in 1938 and Rod Laver, in 1962 and 1969, as the only players to simultaneously possess the French Open, Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon trophies.
However, according to sports analysts, the competition between the two Tennis stars remained pleasant at the time when Djokovic set his foot on the Murray’s throat and reached 24-10 overall and 8-2 in Grand Slams.
Djokovic, 29, was one of only eight men to complete the career Grand Slam. He had lost his previous three finals in Paris.
On the occasion, Djokovic said: “It’s a very special moment, the biggest of my career. I felt today something that I never felt before at Roland Garros, I felt the love of the crowd.”
Djokovic, who played his 20th final at the majors and sixth in succession, was the first man since Jim Courier in 1992 to win the Australian and French Opens back-to-back.
Murray, the world number two and the first British man in the final in Paris since Bunny Austin in 1937, remains with two Grand Slam titles as he failed to become the first winner of the French Open since Fred Perry 81 years ago.
“What Novak’s achieved in the last 12 months is phenomenal, winning all the Grand Slams in one year is an amazing achievement. It’s so rare in tennis, and for me personally, it sucks to lose the match,” said Murray.
Before a ball was hit, spectators stood to applaud Muhammad Ali after an image of the boxing legend, who died Friday, appeared on the giant video screen high up on the Philippe Chatrier court.
