Novak Djokovic’s 23rd Grand Slam win had all the hallmarks of what brought him to this record-breaking pinnacle

Twelve months ago, Casper Ruud found himself in the Roland Garros final, tasked with what may be the toughest jobs in sports: Beating Rafael Nadal in Court Philippe Chatrier. He didn’t come close to winning a set.

On Sunday, Ruud will find himself in the same place, at the same time, faced with an only slightly less momentous assignment: Beating Novak Djokovic in a major final, and keeping him from setting the all-time men’s Grand Slam title record with 23.

Does the 24-year-old Norwegian stand any better chance of succeeding this time? The answer is a very slight yes, for a couple of reasons: (1) Djokovic is not the King of Clay; and (2) Last year, Ruud was playing in his first Grand Slam final; this will be his third. In the US Open title match last fall, he pushed Carlos Alcaraz through four competitive sets, and looked much more comfortable than he had in Paris against Rafa.

Ruud acknowledges that it’s “going to be a tough challenge,” and that he’s going to have to play the “best level that I’ve ever played if I want to have a chance against him.”

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Djokovic has never conceded a set to Ruud in their four previous encounters.

On the plus side, he seems to have found his A game again after searching in vain for it for most of this season. In his last two matches, he was mostly in control against two quality opponents, Holger Rune and Alexander Zverev.

“I was just in the zone,” Ruud said after his blowout semifinal win over Zverev on Friday. “Let’s see if I can keep this sort of feeling and mentality for the final.”

To which every tennis fan responds: “Alexander Zverev is not Novak Djokovic.”

Ruud knows that as well as anyone. In his four matches with Djokovic, two of which were on clay, he has yet to take a set. Ruud’s biggest weapons are his serve and forehand, both of which Djokovic is an expert at neutralizing. On Friday against Alcaraz, the 36-year-old Djokovic also showed that he can still stand toe-to-toe and go on the offensive with anyone.

Djokovic sounded rightfully pleased with the way he played in the two competitive sets of his semifinal. He also sounded as ready as ever for the final.

“I’m so close. I know it,” Djokovic said. “I know the feeling. I’ve had this feeling quite a few times in my career. So I know how I need to handle myself, my emotions, my day tomorrow, and after tomorrow, and to approach the finals in the best possible way.”

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