After capturing a document twenty third main title at Roland Garros on Sunday, an emotional Novak Djokovic was stuffed with delight when reflecting on his historic achievement.

The Serbian defeated Norway’s Casper Ruud in straight units to develop into the primary participant to win all 4 majors no less than 3 times.

“I knew that going into the event, going into the match particularly as we speak, that there was historical past on the road,” Djokovic mentioned. “However I attempted to focus my consideration and my ideas into making ready for this match in the easiest way attainable to win like some other match.

“My workforce has created a superb bubble round me. We did, I believe, an important job in simply staying into the current second and performing nearly as good as we needed to. Once I noticed his forehand going broad, I felt an enormous aid, and I used to be overwhelmed with great feelings. I am very glad and really happy with it.”

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Along with his victory, Djokovic moved one away from Rafael Nadal (22 Slams) and Roger Federer, who retired final 12 months having gained 20 slam titles, within the main race.

The 36-year-old mentioned his admiration for the Swiss and Spaniard when evaluating achievements.

“I’ve at all times in contrast myself to those guys, as a result of these two are the 2 best rivals I ever had in my profession,” Djokovic mentioned. “I’ve mentioned it earlier than many instances that they’ve truly outlined me as a participant, and all of the success that I’ve, they’ve contributed to it, in a means, due to the rivalries and the matchups that we had.

“Numerous hours of pondering and analysing and what it takes to win in opposition to them on the most important stage for me and my workforce. It was simply these two guys have been occupying my thoughts for the previous 15 years quite a bit. In knowledgeable sense. It is wonderful to know that I am one forward of each of them in majors.”

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Djokovic’s title run in Paris, the place he defeated Carlos Alcaraz within the semi-finals, means he’ll return to No. 1 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on Monday for a record-extending 388th week.

The Serbian was requested throughout his post-match press convention to replicate on the place he stands within the recreation.

“Once you speak about historical past, folks largely speak in regards to the Grand Slams gained or the period of time you spent on the No. 1 rating,” Djokovic mentioned. “I’ve managed to interrupt the information in each of those statistics, which is wonderful.”

He later added: “I do not wish to say that I’m the best, as a result of I really feel, I’ve mentioned it earlier than, it is disrespectful in the direction of all the nice champions in numerous eras of our sport that was performed in utterly totally different means than it’s performed as we speak. I really feel like every nice champion of his personal technology has left an enormous mark, a legacy, and paved the best way for us to have the ability to play this sport in such an important stage worldwide.”

Djokovic, who has climbed to first within the Pepperstone ATP Dwell Race To Turin, remains to be hungry for extra. The Serbian is midway to changing into the primary man to win the Grand Slam — claiming all 4 majors in the identical season — since Rod Laver in 1969. In 2021 the 36-year-old gained the 12 months’s first three majors earlier than dropping within the ultimate of the US Open.

“The journey remains to be not over,” Djokovic mentioned. “I really feel if I am profitable Slams, why even take into consideration ending the profession that already has been happening for 20 years. I nonetheless really feel motivated. I nonetheless really feel impressed to play one of the best tennis on these tournaments probably the most… I look ahead already to Wimbledon.”