When Novak Djokovic looked up to the crowd after breaking Andy Murray for a second time in the fourth set to lead 5-2, his reaction was unexpected – he started laughing.
Not hysterically or anything, but knowing he was one game away from that elusive French Open and hearing his name ring through Philippe Chatrier stadium, Djokovic allowed himself to enjoy the moment.
It may have cost him the next two games, but it didn’t really matter.
For so long Djokovic lived in the shadow of the stars that came a few years before him, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who had a massive following and could send stadiums into frenzy on demand.
Last year in the US Open final, Djokovic stood in front of a pro-Federer Arthur Ashe Stadium and took down the Swiss amidst bellowing chants of fans rooting against him.
It was not the first time Djokovic experienced such adversity on the court and in a way it fuelled him to succeed. But seeing his face light up as he soaked up the crowd’s adulation in Paris on Sun day, it was obvious that what mattered the most to Djokovic was the tennis world’s acceptance and on a court notorious for its hard-to-please spectators, the Serb finally earned it.
It’s astonishing that it took so long for people to get on board with Djokovic – and granted some never will – but it’s evident that the moment he won the Paris crowd’s heart was not when he was at his peak, but instead when he was at his lowest.
Just like Murray turned the Wimbledon crowd with one emotional runner-up speech in 2012, Djokovic losing to Stan Wawrinka last year in Paris showed the French he was actually human and it was his vulnerability that day that got the public to stand by him yesterday in the Roland Garros final.
Often accused of trying too hard to be liked, Djokovic became adored in the French capital for the one time he did not try hard enough.
“That’s where it actually got to another level of connection (with the crowd),” Djokovic said on Sunday, referring to the standing ovation he got after losing to Wawrinka in the Paris final last year.
But do his exploits of the past fortnight finally place him in the greatest of all-time conversation he is sometimes excluded from? With every major Djokovic adds to his tally, there is still reluctance from some to put him in the same league as Federer or Nadal.
Djokovic's 28 consecutive GrandSlam wins is an all time record for Men's Singles.When Laver won his last CalendarSlam,GS draws were smaller
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) June 5, 2016
It’s true that they still have more slams than he does, but Djokovic has now achieved something no other man has accomplished since 1969. He has won four majors in a row to complete the non-calendar year Grand Slam and is halfway towards the calendar year Grand Slam.
And even though Djokovic refused to say it, it is highly unlikely either Federer or Nadal will get the chance to match that before they decide to retire.
It is finally time to stop comparing Djokovic to his super rivals. He will never have Federer’s persona or Nadal’s battling energy. He may never tick every single box they did. But the Serb is undoubtedly a phenomenon and deserves to be respected for everything he has done so far.
The past 12 months will probably go down in history as the best in the modern era and he still has a chance to extend his slam streak as he enters Wimbledon as a clear favourite.
As for Murray, the Scot is slowly ticking boxes of his own and reaching the French Open final is a feat not to be belittled. He may be taking the scenic route, but Murray too is inching closer to adding a third major to his tally and his constant need to improve will no doubt take him places.
