2:18 p.m.
Game 2
Someone made a joke in the crowd, I can’t say what, but it’s while Djokovic serves at 15-15. People snicker in this specifically tennis way. The tennis crowds are the worst. I guess it’s possible the crowd will become a factor today and try to disrupt Djokovic.
He’s not in his best shape yet, that’s for sure. A few unforced errors in this game – and soon it’s 30-40. Breaking point. Novak swings really big on this and he has Ruud on the back foot, eventually beaten into submission.
Djoko has to work hard to hold on here. It’s now 40-40 for the third time.
And another devil! The game now lasts up to ten minutes. Djokovic with a weak second serve and Ruud unloads on it with a fierce crosscourt to make it level for the fifth time.
2:12 p.m.
Ruud 1-0 Djokovic* (* indicates next server)
Djokovic follows a substandard dropshot with a substandard lob and Ruud gobbles that up to make it 30-0. Another Novak drop shot, this shot hasn’t worked yet but an interesting tactic, maybe to confuse or confuse?
Ruud concludes the game until love. It will stabilize him, I’m sure.
2:11 p.m.
Casper Ruud
will serve first.
2:10 p.m.
Simon Briggs
“Well, we had a lovely performance of Ravel’s Boléro while the roof was closed, with acrobatic dancers – one of whom performed a backflip over the net to great cheers. (How come the French are always more sophisticated than everyone else?) But now the roof is open again. Go figure it out.”
2:09 p.m.
Ruud door
a dark navy shirt. Djokovic in this burnt sienna/marmalade act.
2:04 p.m.
Djokovic is the third seed
Ruud is four years old.
The roof is open again.
2:04 p.m.
Ruud also gave a warm welcome
“I’m excited, I slept well last night.”
2:03 p.m.
The players come out
Novak has a good hand, he wears a dark orange and navy blue Lacoste track top.
1:50 p.m.
Tiger Tim Henman
do a nice article here on a search for a grass court in Paris. He found one at the British Embassy and he’s going to play with Alize Lim. Tim is late, he says, because he was having a cup of tea. Now he is meeting the British Ambassador in Paris! Maybe it’s Peak Henman, God forbid.
1:45 p.m.
McEnroe’s assessment
He tells Eurosport viewers: “There is not one thing Ruud does better than Djokovic.”
1:42 p.m.
They close the roof
on the Philippe Chatrier court. Rain approx.
1:41 p.m.
Simon Briggs is in Paris
“It was another hot and humid day in a hot and humid fortnight in Paris – but now there are a few drops of rain in the air and the roof of the Philippe Chatrier court is closing. Hard to say if that makes a big difference in the result, but I don’t imagine Djokovic will be unhappy. From his point of view, the fewer variables (sun / wind, etc.), the better, “writes our tennis correspondent.
1:37 p.m.
The seniors march!
Mats Wilander and John McEnroe played Yannick Noah and another older guy I don’t recognize in a doubles match. Eurosport is showing it now. Wilander is now chatting with the beloved Frenchman.
Yannick, of course, won the 1983 edition of this one. I’m a big fan of Wilander as a broadcaster. Seven times great winner himself.
1:29 p.m.
betting odds
Novak Djokovic is as short as 1-6 in places but generally bearable (well, not really bearable but there you go) at 1-5. If you fancy a flutter on the Norwegian, he’s available at 4-1
1:17 p.m.
The men’s French Open final is approaching
Hello and welcome to our men’s final live blog, where it’s 22 Grand Slam tournaments playing Zero Grand Slam. Young Casper Ruud has it all against one of the all-time greats, mighty Novak Djokovic, but the 24-year-old from Oslo has already accomplished one of the toughest tasks in all of sport this week, when he beat Rafael Nadal on clay. It was in the semi-finals, and it earns him a chance against the Serbian legend.
If Djokovic wins, he will break his tie with Rafael Nadal: the two great rivals are blocked on 22 major trophies.
Djokovic said: “I put myself, once again, in a position to fight for another Grand Slam trophy. there’s history involved. I like the feeling. It’s a privilege.
The only two people in tennis history with 23 or more majors are Serena Williams, who retired after last season with 23 tournaments, all in the Open era, and Margaret Court, who won 24. including some in the amateur era.
Djokovic’s first Grand Slam title came in 2008 at the Australian Open, which he won 10 times. He collected seven at Wimbledon, three at the US Open and two at Roland-Garros – in 2016 and 2021.
A win over Ruud would also make Djokovic, the 36-year-old Belgrader, the first man to win at least three championships at every major event.
Ruud was runner-up to Nadal at the French Open last year and Alcaraz to the US Open in 2022. Can he do better?
Well, the omens aren’t too good: Djokovic won all four matches against Ruud, winning all eight sets they played against each other.
“I’m going to have to try to come up with a better game plan,” Ruud said, “and just know that I’m going to have to play my best game – my ‘A’ game, my best level I’ve ever played – if I want to. have a chance against him.
Looks correct to me. The players will be on the pitch two and a half hours from the UK…
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then get a year for just $9 with our exclusive US offer.