Djokovic vs Ruud HIGHLIGHTS, French Open 2023 men’s final: Novak wins in straight sets, clinches third Roland-Garros title

That’s it for this year’s French Open. The caravan moves to the grasscourts with the next Slam - Wimbledon - scheduled to be held from July 3 to 16.

We’ll see you then with our live blogs. Till then, take care and stay safe!

“It’s not a coincidence that I’ve won my 23rd Grand Slam here in Paris. This tournament’s always been the hardest for me to win, so I’m very emotional right now. It means a lot to me.”

To Ruud: “I wish you really all the best. I wish you to win against anybody except me. If you lose early in a Grand Slam, I can win it, no problem.”

To his team: “You know how difficult I can be ... Behind closed doors, I was really torturing you.”

Novak Djokovic receives the Musketeers Cup from Yannick Noah. A huge moment in the history of the sport.

Time for the Serbian national anthem.

After chair umpire Dumusois receives his memento, it is time for Casper Ruud to be awarded with the runner-up trophy for the second year in a row. The Norwegian performed way better than last year’s final but the class of Novak Djokovic proved just too much for him to handle.

Here’s his full speech:

The Parisian crowd welcomes Yannick Noah with a huge round of applause. Noah is still the only Frenchman in the Open era to win the home slam and that happened way back in 1983, 40 years ago. The organisers play a small montage of the 1983 edition.

Three ball kids bring the Muskeeters Cup, the runner-up trophy and a memento for Benoit Dumusois, the chair umpire in the final.

The presentation ceremony is underway. The organisers play a short video of Djokovic’s path to this year’s title.

The ball kids and ground staff enter Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Djokovic goes where no other man has ever been before in the Open Era. Here are the records he has set today-

23 - Most Grand Slam titles by a man in the Open Era

3 - First man to win every Grand Slam at least three times in the Open Era

Djokovic is also the oldest men’s singles champion at French Open at 36 years, 20 days.

Djokovic serving for the title. Heavy forehand return from Ruud - 15-0. Body serve from Djokovic, Ruud nets the backhand return - 30-0. Big T serve followed by a forehand down the line - 40-0. Three championship points for Djokovic. Djokovic sprays a routine crosscourt forehand wide - 40-15. Crosscourt forehand from Ruud goes wide and that’s it! Djokovic wins 23rd Grand Slam title! Djokovic falls on his back as he soaks in the feeling before rushing to the player’s box to hug his wide Jelena and coach Goran Ivanisevic!

Ruud serving. Djokovic wins the opening point with a backhand down the line which dips just in time - 0-15. Crosscourt backhand shot from Ruud falls on the wrong side of the inner sideline - 0-30. Another blistering crosscourt forehand winner from Djokovic to go 40-0 up and earn three break points. Crosscourt backhand winner from the Serbian to break Ruud! Simply outstanding stuff from Djokovic!

Djokovic serving to stay in the set. Begins with a T ace. Goes up 30-0 as Ruud hits a drop shot wide. Another T ace from Djokovic - 40-0. Crosscourt forehand winner from Djokovic. Love hold.

A lovely crosscourt forehand winner from the baseline from Djokovic - 0-15. A 13-shot rally, Djokovic did all the defensive work necessary to stay in it but ended up netting a drop shot in the end - 15-all. The shot was there to be made but the execution cost him. Big forehand down the line from the Norwegian to go 30-15 up. Good serve up the T from Ruud, equally good return in the middle from Djokovic and Ruud hits the forehand long in the follow-up - 30-all. Body serve from Ruud, Djokovic’s backhand return goes long - 40-30. Crosscourt backhand return from Djokovic goes wide. Ruud holds!

Djokovic serving to level the score once again in the third set. A dipping forehand crosscourt return from Ruud and Djokovic ends up netting the forehand volley - 0-15. Deep backhand crosscourt return from Ruud and Djokovic nets the backhand down the line - 0-30. The crowd does not like it one bit as a Djokovic forehand hits the net and the ball drops dead on Ruud’s side - 15-30. Crosscourt forehand on-the-run from way downtown by Ruud goes wide - 30-all. Djokovic bringing his full experience to use in this game. Time violation for Djokovic. T ace from the Serbian, a big response to the hecklers in the crowd. Holds serve.

Gorgeous backhand winner down the line from Ruud - 15-0. T ace from Ruud to go 30-0 up. Short crosscourt forehand exchange between the two before Djokovic hits the winner down the line - 30-15. Wide serve into the ad court, Djokovic hits the crosscourt backhand wide - 40-15. Ruud tries the drop shot, Djokovic reads it early and hits a simple forehand winner down the line. Crosscourt overhead smash from Ruud to close the game.

Strong forehand crosscourt return from Ruud on a wide serve from Djokovic and the Serbian hits the forehand long - 30-15. Nevertheless, a simple hold for Djokovic.

Ruud up 40-15. Another crucial service game almost closed. Sprays wide an inside-out forehand. And Djokovic hits a crosscourt forehand to take it deuce. Talk about drama! Big serve up the T and a forehand winner in the deuce court - game point for Ruud. Wide ace into the ad court. Ruud holds. Stays ahead in the third set.

Blink and you miss. Another love hold for Djokovic.

A 15-shot rally, lots of wind-affected shots, but Ruud comes out on top with a backhand volley winner down the line. Follows it up with a wide serve into the ad court and a forehand volley down the line - 30-0. Overhead smash winner from Djokovic, a forehand down the line from Ruud going long and a forehand down the line winner from Djokovic - the Serbian is up 40-30 and has a break point. The chance goes away as he nets a backhand return - deuce. Crosscourt backhand rally between the two before Ruud decides to hit one down the line, it is a bit short and it helps as the low bounce means Djokovic nets the forehand return. Ruud holds as Djokovic nets a backhand return. Ruud holds!

An easy love hold for the Serbian.

Ruud serving first in a must-win third set. Djokovic with a defensive lob, Ruud decides to hit the forehand volley, Djokovic with a crosscourt backhand return draws a weak backhand volley from Ruud and finishes the point with a backhand pass - 15-30. Ruud with a wide ace into the ad court - 30-30. Djokovic hits a backhand return just long - 40-30. Crucial service hold for Ruud as he serves down the T and Djokovic nets the forehand return.

Djokovic serving for a two-set lead. Crosscourt backhand return from Ruud is heavy - 15-0. Wide serve into the ad court followed by an inside-out forehand winner from Djokovic - 30-0. Ruud nets a backhand slice return - 40-0. Three set points for Djokovic. Wide serve into the ad court followed by a simple backhand winner in the deuce court. Djokovic takes the second set 6-3 in 43 minutes!!

Ruud serving to stay in the set. Forehand pass from the Norwegian to win the opening point after Djokovic rushes to the net. Backhand shot from Ruud from the baseline goes wide after a deep return from Djokovic - 15-all. Body serve from Ruud, Djokovic sends a slow return but the Norwegian ends up hitting the crosscourt forehand wide - 15-30. Big miss. Wide serve into the ad court from Ruud, Djokovic hits the backhand return right at his feet and the result is a Ruud forehand going wide - 15-40. Two set points. First one saved by Ruud as Djokovic sends the forehand serve return long. And Ruud saves the second one two with an angled crosscourt forehand winner - deuce. Overhead smash winner takes Ruud to within one point of closing the game. Backhand down the line return from Djokovic goes long. Ruud holds.

Ruud decides to rush to the net, hits a backhand volley, forced to hit an overhead smash too but finally wins the point with a forehand volley - 15-all. The net attack again from Ruud, again asked to hit the overhand and Djokovic nets the forehand in response - 15-30. Crosscourt backhand return from Ruud goes wide and it is 30-all. Ruud, from way behind the baseline, tries the backhand slice and the ball only finds the net - 40-30. Djokovic with a game point. Terrific forehand lob from Djokovic and Ruud ends up netting the return. Djokovic holds.

Djokovic closes the net but Ruud somehow manages to make the forehand pass and go 30-15 up. Big wide serve into the ad court from Ruud, Djokovic hits the backhand return long - 40-15. Crosscourt forehand return from Djokovic goes long. Ruud holds. Still down by a break though.

T ace from Djokovic to go up 30-0. Big forehand winner down the line from Djokovic - 40-15. Two game points. In absolute control right now. Double fault from the Serbian - 40-30. Big T serve, Ruud hits the forehand return long. Djokovic holds serve.

Body serve from Ruud, Djokovic nets the backhand return - 40-15. Wide serve from Ruud, Djokovic hits the forehand return just long. Ruud on the scoreboard in this second set.

Big serve down the T from Djokovic and Ruud’s forehand return goes long - 30-0. Makes that 40-0 with a wide ace. Big serve up the T and a drop shot to close the game. Djokovic consolidates the break.

Ruud to serve. Loses the opening point with a backhand shot going long. Djokovic up 30-0 with an easy forehand winner. Ruud sets the point with an angled backhand before finishing it with a forehand down the line - 15-30. Second serve, down the T, and Djokovic hits a forehand return winner down the line - 15-40. Two break points. Wide serve into the deuce court followed by a forehand in the same corner while Djokovic looks to go the other way - Ruud saves one break point. And he saves another as Djokovic hits a crosscourt forehand return just wide - 40-all. Second serve from Ruud, Djokovic hits a fantastic crosscourt forehand return from quite close to the baseline before winning the point with an overhead smash - another break point chance. And that opportunity goes away too as Djokovic overhits a backhand return - deuce again. Yet again, a rally in which Ruud seemed to be control but Djokovic ended up winning the point with a forehand down the line. Ruud fails to end the point with a crosscourt overhead smash, Djokovic hits the backhand return at the baseline, Ruud tracks back but the forehand goes only as far as the net - Djokovic breaks!

Djokovic serving first in the second set. Up 40-0 quickly. Holds to love with an wide ace.

Both players are currently off the court. Understandably so after such a long opening set.

Djokovic gets the mini-break straight away with an on-the-run forehand down the line - 1-0. Ruud almost seals the point with a drop shot but it is Djokovic - makes the run to the net - hits a chipped return crosscourt - Ruud hits the crosscourt right at Djokovic who ends the point with a forehand volley into the open court. Ruud sprays a forehand wide and Djokovic leads 3-0. Wide serve into the ad court, forehand winner into the deuce court - Ruud gets his first point in the tiebreak. Djokovic hitting the ball with a bit more venom now - a strong crosscourt backhand return and Ruud can’t help but net the backhand volley - 4-1 to Djokovic. Crosscourt backhand return from Ruud goes wide - 5-1. Change of ends. Ace wide into the deuce court - Djokovic goes up 6-1. Five set points. And Djokovic wraps up the opening set with a crosscourt forehand winner! Djokovic wins the opening set 7-6(1) in 82 minutes.

Djokovic serving to take this set to tiebreak. Backhand slice from Ruud goes long - 0-15. Ruud makes it 15-all with a backhand winner down the line after Djokovic hits a lose forehand. Ace down the T from Djokovic - 30-15. Wide serve into the ad court, forehand into the deuce court - Djokovic up 40-15. Two game points. Djokovic closes the game with a drop shot. Onto the tiebreaker (Djokovic has played five in this tournament and won all of them)

Wide serve into the deuce court from Ruud, Djokovic with a slightly chipped forehand return and Ruud nets the inside-out forehand shot in the follow-up - 0-15. Backhand return from Djokovic goes long - 15-all. Big serve down the T, Ruud rushes to the net and hits a great backhand volley winner - 30-15. Djokovic loses his balance yet again while going for a backhand return - 40-15. Ruud closes the game with a forehand volley. Guarantees himself at least a tiebreak.

Djokovic serving to stay in the set. Aggressive forehand return down the line, followed by a drop shot and finished wit a backhand lob - excellent stuff from Ruud to win the opening point - 0-15. Djokovic tries to do the same with a drop shot and a lob but Ruud manages to keep the ball in play with a tweener, Djokovic hits a loose overhead drop, Ruud hits the crosscourt return and Djokovic nets the backhand volley - 0-30. No mistake on the backhand volley this time from the Serbian - 15-30. Backhand return from Ruud goes wide after Djokovic corners him in the ad corner and forces to go for the pass - 30-all. Slow serve from Djokovic, Ruud sends the forehand return long - 40-30. Forehand return from Ruud goes long. Djokovic holds!

Wide serve from Ruud, Djokovic hits the crosscourt forehand return, and Ruud hits the forehand down the line wide - 0-15. Ruud rushes in, Djokovic hits a slow and dipping forehand return, Ruud nets the backhand volley - 0-30. Lovely defending from Ruud, Djokovic ends up hitting a backhand wide - 15-30. Wide ace from Ruud - 30-all. Ruud goes for the backhand slice and hits the net - break point for Djokovic at 30-40. Solid rally from the two players, initially Ruud attack with the inside-out forehand before being forced to switch to the backhand, eventually the Norwegian wins as Djokovic hits a crosscourt forehand return to his forehand down the line wide - deuce. Oops! Djokovic slips mid-rally while hitting a backhand return, Ruud ends the point with a simple volley at the net - game point for Ruud. Ruud closes the game with an overhead smash. Massive service hold.

Djokovic serving to level the score in the opening set. Djokovic with the wide serve, Ruud hits a couple of forehand returns down the line, gets the weak backhand shot from Djokovic and ends with a crosscourt forehand volley - 0-15. Big service winner down the T from Djokovic - 15-all. Big inside-out forehand return from Ruud, Djokovic manages to somehow hit the backhand over the line and then goes to cover the other corner only to see Ruud finish the point with the inside-out forehand - 15-30. A goregous forehand drop shot from Ruud catches Djokovic off guard and gives the Norwegian a break point - 30-40. Another overhead smash question, Djokovic manages to land it in this time before finishing the point with a crosscourt forehand volley - deuce. Lobbed backhand return from Ruud goes long - game point for Djokovic. Big serve down the T followed by a forehand in the deuce court - Djokovic holds.

Superb crosscourt forehand volley from Ruud to win the opening point - 15-0. Ruud rushes a bit after getting a short ball and mishits the crosscourt backhand shot - 15-all. Djokovic controls the rally before Ruud asks him to hit an overhead smash and the Serbian ends up hitting it long. Ruud with a forehand shot going wide - gives a break point to Djokovic. What a rally! 28 shots! And this time, Djokovic asks Ruud to finish with an overhead smash which the Norwegian ends up hitting into the net. Djokovic breaks back!

Djokovic up 40-0 in no time before netting a crosscourt forehand. Forehand return from Ruud goes wide. Djokovic holds easily.

Error on the crosscourt forehand from Djokovic - 15-0. Powerful overhead smash from Ruud, Djokovic manages to get some racquet on it but the ball goes wide - 30-0. Djokovic absolutely dominates the 15-shot rally but ends up hitting the backhand down the line long - 40-15. That’s a gift from the Serbian. Body serve from Ruud followed by a forehand winner down the line. Ruud holds.

Wide serve into the deuce court followed by a forehand winner in the ad court - Djokovic up 15-0. Backhand return from Ruud goes long - 30-0. Another wide serve from Djokovic and this time, Ruud hits the forehand return long - 40-0. Another wide serve, another heavy return - love hold for Djokovic.

Ruud sets up the point and ends up hitting a simple forehand down the line well wide - 15-30. Djokovic close to breaking back immediately. Djokovic nets a backhand return down the line - 30-all. Another backhand error from Djokovic, this time the return goes long - 40-30. Ruud consolidates the break!

A 15-shot rally following a second serve from Djokovic and it is Ruud who ends it by netting the drop shot - 15-0. Djokovic makes an unforced error - nets a crosscourt forehand - 15-all. Big serve up the T from Djokovic, Ruud barely gets his racquet on it - 30-15. Another unforced error from the Serbian, this time an inside-out forehand goes wide - 30-all. And a forehand from Djokovic goes long in a baseline rally - 30-40. Break point for Ruud. Djokovic saves it as he forces a heavy forehand return out of Ruud - deuce. Another chance for Ruud to break as Djokovic sends a crosscourt forehand wide. Wide serve into the ad court followed by a forehand winner in the deuce court - Djokovic saves another break point - deuce again. T ace from the Serbian. Not yet as Djokovic nets a crosscourt forehand - deuce again. Wide serve into the deuce court followed by an inside-out forehand into the ad court - gives Djokovic another chance to close the game. Loopy crosscourt forehand return from Ruud, Djokovic looks for a forehand winner down the line but hits the net - deuce again. Wide serve into the deuce court followed by forehand winner in the same corner as Ruud decides to go the other way - advantage Djokovic. Second serve from Djokovic and Ruud hits an inside-out forehand return winner - deuce. Crosscourt forehand not working for Djokovic so far - another one goes wide - another break point for Ruud. Djokovic goes for the serve-and-volley, Ruud manages to hit a defensive lob and Djokovic ends up sending the overhead smash long. Ruud breaks!

Ruud wins the opening point as Djokovic nets a backhand return in a short crosscourt rally. And Djokovic unleashes the drop shot in the second rally of the match, Ruud manages to chip the ball over the net, Djokovic goes for the volley over the Norwegian only to see Ruud hit a backhand winner past him - 30-0. Ruud closes the opening game with a forehand winner down the line.

Ruud to serve first.

Live visuals from Roland-Garros. Casper Ruud enters Court Philippe-Chatrier followed by two-time champion Novak Djokovic.

Women’s Singles: Iga Swiatek

Women’s Doubles: Xinyu Wang/Su-Wei Hsieh

Men’s Doubles: Ivan Dodig/Austin Krajicek

Mixed Doubles: Miyu Kato/Tim Puetz

Boys’ Singles: Dino Prizmic

Girls’ Singles: Alina Korneeva

Boys’ Doubles: Yaroslav Demin/Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez

Men’s Wheelchair Singles: Tokito Oda

Women’s Wheelchair Singles: Diede De Groot

Men’s Wheelchair Doubles: Alfie Hewett/Gordon Reid

Women’s Wheelchair Doubles: Yui Kamiji/Kgothatso Montjane

Quad Wheelchair Singles: Niels Vink

Quad Wheelchair Doubles: Andy Lapthorne/Donald Ramphadi

Seems like the men’s final will now start at 6:30PM IST

35 - Will become the first Scandinavian French Open men’s singles champion in 35 years (Mats Wilander, 1988)

23 - Most Grand Slam titles by a man in the Open Era

3 - First man to win every Grand Slam at least three times in the Open Era

94 - Djokovic will clinch his 94th singles title, tying Ivan Lendl for third place on the all-time list and only behind Federer (103) and Connors (109)

Djokovic will also become the oldest men’s singles champion at French Open at 36 years, 20 days.

Djokovic: 18 hours 44 minutes

Ruud: 16 hours 59 minutes

Semifinal: 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 against Alexander Zverev (GER)

Quarterfinal: 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 against Holger Rune (DEN)

Fourth Round: 7-6(3), 7-5, 7-5 against Nicolas Jarry (CHI)

Third Round: 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 against Zhizhen Zhang (CHN)

Second Round: 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 against Giulio Zeppieri (ITA)

First Round: 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 against Elias Ymer (SWE)

Semifinal: 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 against Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)

Quarterfinal: 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-4 against Karen Khachanov

Fourth Round: 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 against Juan Pablo Varillas (PER)

Third Round: 7-6(4), 7-6(5), 6-2 against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP)

Second Round: 7-6(2), 6-0, 6-3 against Marton Fucsovics (HUN)

First Round: 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(1) against Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA)

Djokovic leads the head-to-head record 4-0 against Ruud. The two players last faced each other in the final of the 2022 ATP Tour Finals which Djokovic won 7-5, 6-3. However, they have never played against each other in a Grand Slam.

The match will be broadcast on the Sony Sports Network and live streamed on SonyLiv and JioTV apps.

Novak Djokovic pursued Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for quite some time. They were the guys he measured himself against. The players who established the standards he sought to surpass.

Sure, when Djokovic looks across the net in Court Philippe Chatrier during the French Open final today, he will see Casper Ruud trying to prevent him from earning a men’s-record 23rd championship at a Grand Slam tournament.

Still, it’s important to remember that the milestone Djokovic is chasing now is in many ways defined by his two great rivals.

Live action begins at 6PM IST. Stay tuned as we build up to the summit clash!