Novak Djokovic Surpasses Nadal’s Grand Slam Record, Joins Federer in French Open Triumph
In a tense battle during the third round of the 2023 French Open, Novak Djokovic demonstrated his prowess by defeating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina with a commanding 7-6(4), 7-6(5), 6-2 victory.
This triumph not only avenged Djokovic’s previous loss to the Spaniard but also solidified his position as the favorite to claim the Roland Garros title. Furthermore, this remarkable win enabled Djokovic to surpass Rafael Nadal’s elusive Grand Slam record and join Roger Federer in an elite list of tennis greats.
Djokovic’s Remarkable Milestone
With his triumph in the third round, Djokovic achieved a significant milestone in his career. This victory marked his 60th appearance in the second week of a Grand Slam tournament, highlighting his consistency and dominance on the biggest stages in tennis.
Surprisingly, out of these 60 appearances, Djokovic achieved an astonishing 17 at Roland Garros, 15 at the Australian Open (where he secured 10 titles), and 14 each at Wimbledon and the US Open. What sets this achievement apart is Djokovic’s incredible record of reaching the second week in 60 of his last 65 Grand Slam appearances.
It is a stark contrast to his initial five appearances, which ended in early exits. Additionally, Djokovic’s impressive streak of 21 consecutive second-week appearances dates back to the 2017 French Open.
By attaining this milestone, Djokovic joins the esteemed company of Roger Federer, becoming only the second player in tennis history to achieve 60 second-week appearances in Grand Slam tournaments.
Federer holds the record with 69 such appearances, while Rafael Nadal currently stands in third place with 54. This accomplishment further solidifies Djokovic’s status as one of the game’s all-time greats.
Record-Breaking Win Percentage
In addition to surpassing Nadal’s Grand Slam record, Djokovic also edges ahead of him in men’s singles win percentage at Grand Slams during the Open Era (minimum 10 matches).
Djokovic’s win percentage stands at an impressive 87.98, just marginally higher than Nadal’s 87.96. However, both players trail the legendary Bjorn Borg, who holds the top spot with a win percentage of 89.24.
With his sights set on securing a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title and regaining the world No.1 ranking, Djokovic is now just four wins away from achieving this monumental feat. In the next round, he will face Juan Pablo Varillas, who emerged victorious in a thrilling five-set match against the 13th seed, Hubert Hurkacz. Djokovic’s determination and skill make him a formidable force as he continues his quest for glory at Roland Garros.
