MIKE DICKSON: Only the weight of history can stop Novak Djokovic winning the French Open

At the start of this French Open, it looked like there was the possibility that Novak Djokovic would hamper himself again in another Grand Slam.

Scribbling his support for Serbian claims to Kosovo on camera after the game, it looked like he might be carried away by the feverish political atmosphere that has been a defining feature of this fortnight.

Normal service has resumed, however, and the 36-year-old now looks set to take full advantage of Rafael Nadal’s absence.

He will face Norway’s Casper Ruud in Sunday’s men’s final and, in the heart of Nadal’s citadel, it will be a major surprise if he doesn’t edge the tall Spaniard to 23 Grand Slam singles titles.

As Wimbledon approaches, for which he will be the biggest favorite he has ever been at Roland Garros, the next five weeks offer the chance to put clear blue water between him and his longtime rival. date. And there’s no certainty that Nadal will play again, let alone add to his Majors tally.

The 36-year-old is now one game away from his 23rd Grand Slam singles title

Carlos Alcaraz admitted after the semi-final that the Serbian’s aura had reached him

Djokovic is way too smart to start talking about the Grand Slam schedule, but it will be another item on the agenda if he can beat the 24-year-old from Oslo.

After the semi-final, Carlos Alcaraz made the brutal admission that the aura of the Serb had reached him and Ruud will enter handicapped knowing that in four meetings he has yet to win a set. He faces someone who has reached 34 finals in the 70 Grand Slams he has played.

If there’s any hope for Ruud it’s that he made the final here last year, falling well short against Nadal and there’s no expectation on him. The player the Norwegian beat comfortably in the semi-finals, Alex Zverev, suggested that this factor should not be underestimated.

“When you’re on the edge of history, it adds a bit of pressure,” said the German, referring to the Serbian’s collapse in New York in 2021 when he was on the verge of winning the four Majors in a single year. “Do you remember the US Open final he had with [Daniil] Medvedev. Pressure, you know, we’re all human. Novak is human. We all feel it. So for Casper, it’s the best-case scenario.

Another record at stake for Djokovic is that he would become the first man to win all four Majors at least three times.

“History is always something that hangs over me, but I’m very happy to be in this position to write the history of this sport,” he said. “I’ve had this feeling several times in my career, so I know how I have to manage myself, my emotions, my day tomorrow and approach the final in the best possible way.

If Djokovic wins, he’ll surpass Rafael Nadal’s major singles title tally

On his way is Casper Ruud, who played his second consecutive final at Roland Garros

It’s been a strange fortnight in some ways and not just because Nadal hasn’t been there to chase a 14th title. The crowds were exceptionally feverish and if Ruud could get a foothold in the game he would likely find plenty of support.

Not everyone loves Djokovic, always a polarizing figure and the trophy will be presented by Yannick Noah, on the 40th anniversary of his transformation into the last Frenchman to win his Slam on home soil. Noah has publicly stated that he was among those who did not reconcile with the Serb.

Last month, in an interview with La Nacion, he compared him unfavorably to Nadal and Roger Federer: “The other two have more charisma. I’m not attracted to him. When he wins a match point, I don’t connect with him.

Ruud should not be underestimated, however. This will be his second Grand Slam final out of the last three. It is nevertheless difficult to see him stopping Djokovic on the best of five. And all of that on the surface, which is supposed to see him most vulnerable.