cnn
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For years, the 'Big Three' of men's tennis – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – have racked up grand slams, each providing their own reasons for being crowned the greatest men's player of all time.
Now, with Federer retired and Nadal injured, Djokovic has a chance to stake his own claim in that never-ending debate and win a record 23 Grand Slam titles on Sunday at the French Open, surpassing the mark he currently holds with Nadal.
Standing in Djokovic's path is Casper Ruud, who has reached three of the last five Grand Slam finals, including last year's final at Roland Garros, where he was dismantled by Nadal 6-3, 6-3, 6-0. .
If Djokovic can win on Sunday, he will also return to the top of the world rankings and become the first men's player to win each Grand Slam tournament at least three times. However, that pressure is familiar to the Serb, he said after his semi-final victory.
“History is always something that looms over me, but I am very happy to be in this position to write the history of this sport,” he said, according to the ATP Tour. “I'm just thinking about winning the next game.
“I always have pressure on my shoulders, so it won't be any different. But it's part of my sport, part of my life, everything I do. I think having pressure is a privilege. But it is also a source of motivation. Great motivation to play well and get to Sunday.”
It has been a relatively easy road to the final for Djokovic, as he has only lost two sets: one against Karen Khachanov in the quarterfinals and another against the number one seed, Carlos Alcaraz, in the semifinals.
That match against Alcaraz had been billed as a classic, but in the end, Djokovic was victorious after the young Spaniard suffered a cramp at the start of the third set, with the match finely balanced at one set apiece.
The Serbian has been imperious at the Grand Slams for the past three years, a loss to Nadal at the French Open last year being the only blemish on the Majors he has been able to compete in.
But facing such a dominant player is a familiar position for Ruud, as he faces an opponent looking to break or extend his record total of Grand Slam titles for the second year in a row.
“Last year it was against Rafa, this year it's against Novak, so what can you say? They are two of the toughest players in history,” Ruud said after his semi-final victory, according to The Guardian. “I have to be the underdog like today, play without too many feelings, just try to enjoy.”
The 24-year-old Norwegian has never won a set against Djokovic, losing all four of his matches, and that gulf ensures he will enter the court as the underdog, although he can now draw on experience from two previous Grand Slams. final appearances.
“It will surely be difficult,” Ruud said, according to the ATP Tour. “He is playing for his 23rd. I'm playing for the first time. So I will try to play without pressure and enjoy the moment.
“I think that was my mentality last year (against Nadal) as well, and it didn't go the way I wanted. Obviously I would like to try to do better than last year. Let's see if I have learned something from the previous two (important finals) that I played last year. It just feels great to be back.”
Despite coming into the tournament after a mixed start to the season, Ruud has found his form, winning against a top 10 player at a Grand Slam for the first time when he defeated Holger Rune in the quarterfinals and dismantling Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals. .
That semi-final performance will galvanize Ruud heading into the final, as he looks to overcome the odds and claim his first Grand Slam title.
