When he won his second Grand Slam title in Melbourne in 2011, no one could even imagine what future awaits Novak Djokovic. Roger Federer already had 16 cups from the biggest tournaments and overtook the long-time record holder Pete Sampras (14), Rafael Nadal had nine, and the rivalry between the Swiss and the Spaniard was the best that the world of sports could offer.
However, in a few years, Nole deserved to start talking about the Big Three, then to start the debate about the best of all time, and today, he could close it forever, because he is on the threshold of his 23rd Grand Slam title and title of the most decorated tennis player. With all the other records he holds, no one could say that Nadal or Federer is better than the Serbian ace, because all the numbers would deny him.
There is only one more obstacle on his way to eternity - Kasper Rud. The finalist from last season has never managed to break even a set from Djokovic in four duels so far, but he is extremely dangerous on clay. Until the match for the Musketeers Cup, he lost three sets, but in the semi-finals he played almost perfectly and lost only seven games to Alexander Zverev.

This is the Norwegian's third Grand Slam final (he lost last year to Nadal in Paris and Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open), and Djokovic's 34th "escape" from Federer (31) and the King of Clay (30). Experience is the biggest asset of the 36-year-old from Belgrade, as was the case against Alkaras in the semi-finals, when he was an outsider according to bookmakers.
The young Spaniard "burned out" under pressure two days ago, now he will be on the back of Djokovic, who has reached the threshold of the goal he has been dreaming about for years. It was the same in 2021, when he had a chance to become the first player in the open era to win all four Grand Slams in the same year, but he fell at the last hurdle, in the final against Danilo Medvedev in New York.
- Novak is one of the best players in the world, but when you are on the threshold of history, it adds a little pressure. Remember the US Open final against Medvedev, after he beat me in the semi-finals. The pressure took its toll, we're all human after all. And Novak is only human, we all feel that - said Zverev after the defeat against Rud.
Djokovic has won a series of 20 Grand Slams (seven at Wimbledon and the Australian Open, he missed the US Open).
- I put myself in the perfect position to win another Grand Slam title. I know the crowd will probably be against me, but I don't mind. Not the first time, probably not the last. I will continue to win - said Nole confidently.

Rud had no chance against his idol Nadal last season (6:3, 6:3, 6:0), now he has more experience.
- I will try to play without much emotion. I play my best tennis when I don't think too much and push myself to win. Of course, I will feel the pressure if I win a set or come close to victory, it is important to be mentally prepared - emphasized the 24-year-old from Oslo.
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