Novak Djokovic not dishearten of failing to make history at Roland Garros – Tennis News
Legendary Rod Laver’s 43-year record remained intact as the reigning world number one, Novak Djokovic of Serbia, failed to win the Roland Garros French Open title last weekend. The Serbian tennis icon was outplayed by the brilliance
of the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal, who bagged his record seventh French Open title.
It was way back in 1969 when Rod Laver registered a Calendar Grand Slam by winning all the four Major titles in succession. No tennis professional has ever achieved this feat since then and his historic record remains on the top.
Djokovic had a perfect opportunity in Paris this time and could have claimed his fourth consecutive grand Slam title to break Laver’s record.
Only three men have reached closer to breach this mammoth record. The first one was the legendary Swiss Maestro, Roger Federer, who had two opportunities to surpass Laver but just like Djokovic, he was denied by the excellence
of Nadal on both occasions at the Roland Garros. Nadal himself had three Major trophies in his bag but agonising knee injury shattered his dream of completing the Calendar Grand Slam at the Australian Open.
Djokovic was the third of the voyagers to earn an opportunity to have a shot at this historic record. He knew it would be not easy to hunt down the King of Clay on his favourite red surface and soon was seen struggling in the contest.
The top seed Serbian dropped opening two sets right away to fall on his back foot but made his way back in the battle by winning the third set. However, all his hopes faded away when Nadal sealed his seventh Roland Garros triumph in the fourth set.
"The disappointment is there because I lost the match,” said the world number one Djokovic. “Yes, there was obviously the opportunity to make history as well, but it was not a primary thought in my mind. I was excited about this
opportunity. Nothing more than that, really. Unfortunately, there was a rain delay when I started to feel really good on the court. But I don't want to find an excuse in that, because the first rain delay maybe helped me a little bit, the second helped him.
So that's the way it goes, and the better player won."
Djokovic has turned his focus on the upcoming grass-court Grand Slam event, Wimbledon Championships and the London Olympic Games next month.
Tags: