Novak Djokovic v Stefanos Tsitsipas: French Open final – live! – The Guardian

We cut to a French astronaut, who enjoyed the game now that you ask. Great stuff.

Djokovic says the atmosphere was electric, and thanks his box, coach, family and all the rest. He’s played nine hours over the last 48 hours against two brilliant players but he trusts his capabilities and knew he could do it. It’s a dream, he says, then thanks the crowd again.

Poor old Stefanos. His day will come and not long from now, but he didn’t quite have the staying power to get it done today. Djokovic didn’t actually play that well, even when coming back, which in a way makes what he did even more outrageous. His ability to find the right shots at the right times is unparalleled in the near-40 years I’ve been watching tennis and there aren’t many better at clutch in any sport.

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Novak Djokovic beats Stefanos Tsitsipas (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 to win his 19th grand slam!

He’s the first man to win all four majors at least twice in the open era and is, quite frankly, the most obscene freak of absolute nature we’ve ever seen! Amazing behaviour! He’s now one behind Federer and Nadal and on for a calendar year grand slam that would see him overtake them!

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*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 5-4 Tsitsipas What a rally this is, Tsitsipas chucking heat and Djokovic responding, hauling a forehand winner from the depths of his forefathers’ graves! Adavantage Djokovic.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 5-4 Tsitsipas Have a look! Tsitsipas mullers a backhand down the line and onto the line! Deuce.

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*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 5-4 Tsitsipas Djokovic sends down his fastest serve of the match – he is not of our species – and knocks home the volley at the net. 40-30.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 5-4 Tsitsipas Djokovic sends a backhand to the diagonally opposite corner … and it’s fractionally long! 30-30

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 5-4 Tsitsipas Ach! Tsitsipas is well in the rally, then frames a backhand into orbit. 30-15.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 5-4 Tsitsipas Djokovic, almost stood on the net, nets a simple putaway! 15-15

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 5-4 Tsitsipas A sapping rally ensues, Djokovic keeping it in play and awaiting the error … which soon comes on the forehand, the ball dropping wide. 15-0.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 5-4 Tsitsipas Right then, here we go. Let’s go point by point…

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 5-4 Tsitsipas* A belting return to the backhand is far too much for Tsitsipas and gives Djokovic 15-all; they quickly arrive at 30-all. So Tsitsipas unloads a brave service winner down the middle … then nets a simple putaway, though of course Djokovic made him play it with a silly get. But have a look! On deuce, Tsitsipas deposits a lush backhand onto the sideline, then Djokovic goes long and will now have to serve for it.

“Djokovic is impossible,” returns Calvin our tennis coach. “You need three sets of winners or you’re not beating him. And he’s the hardest player ever to hit winners past.”

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*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 5-3 Tsitsipas The last thing Tsitsipas needed was a fight to hold, because he’s going to need everything he’s got to break. You can see it’s not enough though, because after Djokovic hits a forehand winner, he dashes to the net and plants a volley onto the line, then makes like it’s secured the point, which it hasn’t – not because he thinks it has, but because his desire to believe it has is so strong. As such, when Djokovic gets the ball back, he’s not in position to put away, and the game quickly disappears from there.

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 4-3 Tsitsipas* I say that, but I don’t actually think he’s tossed this – as I said earlier, you don’t turn up for your first major final, destroy Novak Djokovic in straights, then disappear on the sesh with your boys, and I don’t think Tsitsipas has the gas for a four or five-setter in this context. Djokovic hasn’t peppered him with winners, he’s just hit to within half a foot of the baseline every time he’s needed to – as we said at the outset – and let physical and mental fatigue do the rest. Anyway, we’re very quickly ay 15-40 – these are virtual championship points – and Djokovic gets him moving along the line. So Tsitsipas tries a drop, Djokovic chases it down and finds a fine riposte, they exchange at the net, and Tsitsipas knocks a winner into the space. A big serve and two colossal forehands later, it’s deuce – that’s a monumental effort – and two points later, it’s 4-3! I think it’s really important to be clear that Tsitsipas absolutely has not bottled this – people can be keen to assume it when a player loses a lead – he’s just run out of flow, form and energy.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 4-2 Tsitsipas There we go, a forehand return winner gives Tsitsipas -15, but we all know what’s coming next … and there it is. It’s not an ace but it is a service winner down the T, then another beauty that’s ballooned way over the baseline. The next serve is there to be hit but Tsitsipas can’t control it, and what looked like trouble is quickly converted into an easy hold. Tsitsipas is running out of time and I’m already in bits thinking about his interview. This is going to haunt the nightmares of his grandkids.

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 3-2 Tsitsipas* I’ll keep saying this because it’s remains the case: if Tsitsipas can keep holding serve, his genius shot-making can still save him. But at 30-0, Djokovic flips a forehand winner cross-court and his effort to get it bespeaks a man who’s nearly beaten. A drop into the net follows, then a big serve dredged from the tips of the toes and bottom of the soul, an overhead hit at Djokovic still giving him a chance … but he nets. Another big serve confirms the hold, and Tsitsipas remains a live dog.

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Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 2-1 Tsitsipas* A long shadow now encroaches on the court, down almost half of one side – it’s annoying to see on a screen so is presumably annoying to see when exhausted and trying to hit a tennis ball. Anyhow, at 15-all Tsitsipas hits a drop – I’m not sure many have worked for him today, but this is a goodun – except Djokovic screeches after it and though Tsitsipas reaches his riposte, he can’t force it around the net post. Still, a shadow-aided service winner makes 30-all, then another drop is too good – again, Djokovic gets there but this time he can only get the angle to flick it wide. OK, hang on folks: a poor second serve allows Djokovic to punish a forehand winner down the line and this is the match – if Tistsipas is broken he’s done for, so Djokovic tantalises him with the chance to his a backhand winner down the line and on the run … so he does! The stones to take that on! It tickled the whitewash too, but Djokovic wins the next two points for advantage! Here we go … and oh dear. Djokovic spirits a forehand deep, right by the line, and a tired, nondescript backhand from Tsitsipas floats long! He’s in all sorts now, but can take some comfort that he’s playing a bit better than before, so you never know (er, you sort of do … but maybe you don’t).

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 1-1 Tsitsipas At 30-0 this looks like easy hold for Djokovic, but that shouldn’t trouble Tsitsipas too much. I mean it should, but at this point he just needs to sort his own serve games out and assume his forehand will earn him a chance in a bit. And anyway, an error from Djokovic then a lob that drops long means it’s 40-30 … but Tsitsipas can’t control his return. Still, this is very tight now, and this is everything that sport is about.

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Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 0-1 Tsitsipas* It’d be so great, and a fitting end to a great championships – in both competitions – if both men could find their level here. But I’m afraid to say that I fear Tsitsipas has gone, and a forehand winner from Djokovic makes 0-30. The match is here, people … and Tsitsipas finds a booming ace down the middle! “TSIT-SI-PAS! TSIT-SI-PAS!” bellow the crowd, and yer man absolutely lamps consecutive forehands down the line for 30-all. But arghhh, ich, and eesh – an absentminded backhand hands Djokovic break point – but wow, ping and zip – a serve out wide then a wrongfooting forehand into the same corner make deuce! This is boiling and broiling now, but Tsitsipas can’t convert his first game point; no matter. He hammers a forehand that earns him another go and he already looks better than before – a clever second serve down the middle, Djokovic spoons his return, and this is intense. I’ve no clue how these lads do it, no clue whatsoever; I can hardly type, never mind run, hit and think.

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HERE WE GO! HOLD ON! HOLD ME!

I’ve not a clue what Tsitsipas has left. If it’s not more than we’ve seen in the last set, he’s done for, but if he can focus on serving well he’s got a chance. Thing is, Djokovic is on a roll and isn’t simply feeding the forehand anymore.

Djokovic takes the fourth set to level the match at 2-2!

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 Tsitsipas* Djokovic is right on the baseline now, and looks very strong. He makes 15-0 with a venomous backhand, then a service winner takes him two points away. Next, a backhand goes long, but an ace raises two set points … the first disappearing when a forehand is also long … but a backhand winner follows, and we’ve got ourselves a decider!

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Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 5-2 Tsitsipas* This isn’t vintage Djokovic, but it also is because he’s finding a way. I wonder if it took him the first two sets to run the semi out of his legs, because the way he moves onto a forehand winner for 15-all is far better than anything he managed in the early stages. But Tsitsipas then wins three straight points, the final one with an ace, so Djokovic will have to serve for it.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 5-1 Tsitsipas At 30-0, Tsitsipas comes in, so Djokovic clouts a backhand pass cross-court then quickly closes out. Tsitsipas looks bushed, but he’ll want to hold here so he serves first in the decider.

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 4-1 Tsitsipas* More like it from Tsitsipas, who breaks Djokovic’s run of five straight games, holding to love. He’s on the board in set four, and the ace that sealed the deal will give him some heart – he served really well in the first two sets, but fell away badly thereafter.

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*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 4-0 Tsitsipas When you think about the big three – the big four even – what we sometimes forget in rhapsodising their strokeplay is their mentality. Djokovic looked tentative all the way through this match, but then circumstance challenged him to find something and now look. I wonder if Tsitsipas will tank this set now – well, not tank, but use it to hit his way back into form, because the way he’s playing now, he’s got no chance of saving himself unbearable, scalding pain. Djokovic holds to love.

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Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 1-0 Tsitsipas* Tsitsipas dashes to the net to claim the first point of set four only to shove his forehand long – he’s not hitting it as well as earlier, and when Djokovic steps in on his serve, a shoulder-high winner follows. Tsitsipas gets back to 15-30, but another loose forehand and he’s facing two break points; when this happened in set one, he found three straight aces, but this time a tame backhand winner hands Djokovic the advantage. This is slipping away now, and Djokovic has somehow willed himself into groove.

After a big of twisting and pressing, Tsitsipas is good to go. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

Tsitsipas will be disappointed with how he was broken in that set, but if he takes a moment will know that you don’t turn up, rinse Djokovic in three to win your first major, then go and get steaming with your mates. He nips off for a break, then gets the trainer on to have a butcher’s at his back.

Djokovic wins the third set to trail Tsitsipas (6)6-7 2-6 6-3!

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 Tsitsipas Ooh yeah! The game kicks off with a sapping, sensational rally, ended by Djokovic with a backhand drop on the run, and a whipped forehand winner puts him two points away. Tistsipas, though, finds a gorgeous forehand of his own, hooked from the centre to the sideline, and then Djokovic sends down a double! Eighteen majors and the nerves are still jangling, but what a forehand he finds when sent to the corner, Tsitsipas dropping fractionally long with a riposte that’s almost as good. A forehand winner follows, and the comeback is on!

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Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 5-3 Tsitsipas* Tell you what, I can’t remember the last time I saw Djokovic play this badly in the final of a slam – if Tsitsipas loses this he’ll be poorly for quite some time. And he nets a volley for 0-15 then finds himself passed for 0-30, but Tsitsipas quickly levels the game then when Djokovic catches up with a drop, just, they exchange gets before Djokovic raps one at him and he glances home a winning volley then closes out. Djokovic will have to serve for it…

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 5-2 Tsitsipas Djokovic goes long with a forehand and chastises the cosmos for its gross injustices; the crowd boo. I’ve no idea how a grown adult can go through with such activity – “use your words,” as we used to say to my nipper – but Tsitsipas is back into this now and quickly makes 15-30. Djokovic, though, puts a forehand into the corner then, despite a tame second serve, raises game point with a luscious drop then wallops a forehand to that same forehand corner.

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 4-2 Tsitsipas* Tsitsipas could do with a comfy hold here, but at 15-0 he sends down his second double of the match and is soon serving at 15-30. But he finds a sizeable first serve, then another – mentally, he is right there – and a high kicker out to the backhand gets him back settled.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 4-1 Tsitsipas Last time Djokovic broke, Tsitsipas retorted immediately, but yerman is fighting his way into stride … though as I type that, Tsitsipas dematerialises a forehand winner that shrieks cross-court for 30-15. Djokovic, though, closes out easily enough.

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 3-1 Tsitsipas* At 15-all, Djokovic has a go at a second serve, but Tsitsipas simply disburses successive monstrous forehands; that shot is dominating the match and it’s hard to see how that changes … er, perhaps like that! At 40-15, Djokovic smacks a backhand winner down the line, then hangs in until Tsitsipas nets a forehand; deuce. And here we go! Another forehand error hands Djokovic break point … but check out the stones on that! Tsitsipas unloads the suitcase on a succession of forehands, then when Djokovic plays to the back, a sliced drop opens the court for the winer. This game might just be crucial, and a dazzling return from Djokovic gets him another shot at winning at … but a big serve, a big forehand, two gigantic overheads – the ball was in the air for a generation, twice – and we’re back at deuce. Tsitsipas, though, goes wide with a forehand … so imposes a big serve and clean-up backhand. He’s been sensational under pressure so far, but another forehand error means he’s under it again … and it’s Djokovic who crumbles, missing a simple half-court forehand after dictating the rally and forcing Tsitsipas to defend desperately (and brilliantly). This is the longest game of the match now, and the next opportunity to nick it falls to Tsitsipas … who nets a backhand. This feels a lot like the match and both players are attacking the moment like it cussed their mum, a backhand error from Tistsipas handing Djokovic a fifth break point, and when the serve out wide opens the court, he can only stick his backhand wide! We got ourselves a ball-game!

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*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 2-1 Tsitsipas Again, Tsitsipas thinks Djokovic has gone long, circling where he thinks the mark is; again, the umpire thinks to the contrary and Djokovic shakes his head disapprovingly. He loves rules, after all. Anyhow, a terrific wrong-footing forehand gives Tsitsipas 30-all, and if he can find a return here he’s bang in business. A return to a second serve! But this time his forehand lets him down and a fine one from Djokovic – we’ve not seen many – gets them sat down again.

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Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 1-1 Tsitsipas* A forehand winner followed by a ninth ace gives Tsitsipas 30-0, but then Djokovic finds a glorious forehand return on the stretch for 40-30. We’ve not seen much of that today, and a serve out wide followed by a clean-up forehand extinguish hope as soon as it was kindled.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 1-0 Tsitsipas For Tsitsipas to play like this in his first major final is very impressive; he’s not been at his best, but he’s been solid, and his solid – embroidered with the occasional ripper – is brilliant. Djokovic holds to 15.

Tsitsipas is so relaxed out there now, playing his game. Djokovic, on the other hand, looks exhausted and out of ideas – but we know what he can do, so this isn’t over.

Tsitsipas wins the second set to lead 7-6(6) 6-2!

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 Tsitsipas* Here we go. Djokovic, who looks pretty forlorn out there, lands a return on the line; Tsitsipas circles a mark, the umpire has a look, and says it’s in; 0-15. But three Djokovician errors follow, then an ace down the middle, and oh my absolute days! We’ve been waiting for about three decades, but are the big three about to be usurped?

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*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-5 Tsitsipas Tsitsipas reads a second serve and absolutely rips it down the line for 15-all; tellingly, Djokovic doesn’t chase it even though he had a chance of getting there, and when he tries a drop next point, Tsitsipas runs it down and caresses a glorious flick into the empty bit of the court. AND HAVE A LOOK! An error from Djokovic gives 15-40 – it quickly becomes 30-40 – and what a point this is coming up. But it’s a squib, Tsitsipas’ forehand clipping the net and leaping wide; deuce. No matter. He wrests control of the rally with a backhand, then unleashes a wrong-footing winner, into Djokovic’s backhand corner as he scurries away from it to the centre. Djokovic then nets a forehand, and this set is nearly over!

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-4 Tsitsipas* The rallies have been much shorter the last few games, but we have a longun to start here, again dominated by Tsitsipas’ forehand, and Djokovic flails with a desperate drop that hits the net. Earlier, we were discussing how he tends not to target a particular aspect of his opponent’s game in order to keep them guessing, but it might be time to examine how Tsitsipas’ backhand stands up under pressure because at the moment the match is going as well as he can possibly have dreamed. He holds to love.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-3 Tsitsipas Djokovic came from 2-0 down against Musetti, but this is a very different affair. Tsitsipas is in great shape, has great shots and, most of all, he’s ready: his game is there, his body is there, his mind is there. Djokovic is, though, holding comfortably now; can he force a break-back opportunity?

*Djokovic (6)6-7 1-2 Tsitsipas Tsitsipas needs to make this count because Djokovic isn’t currently at it. He does, though, hold to 15, which gets him on the board in set two.

Djokovic (6)6-7 0-2 Tsitsipas* Tsitsipas will know these are the moments of his life. He’ll never have experienced anything like this but he’ll have visualised it every day for years and years. I’ve no idea how you cope with this kind of thing but oh my god, at 0-15 Tsitsipas hangs in the rally, Djokovic botching an overhead and allowing him to leap into a backhand retort. Even then, though, Djokovic should do more with his forehand, not hard enough or deep enough into the forehand corner, but even so, though, Tsitsipas’ response is superb and too good, walloped at the laces; he’s enjoying this, but will need to get by deuce if he’s to consolidate … and does at the first time of asking, a loopy forehand onto the line sealing the deal. This is extremely intense now.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 0-1 Tsitsipas It really did look like Djokovic was doing his usual in that set, finding his best tennis for its key moment. But when serving for it he dropped to 15 and, as we discussed, the man with the bigger shots took the breaker … before racing to 0-40! Djokovic saves the first break point … but then goes long with a forehand on the second! Tsitsipas is in tsexcelsis!

That was such a good breaker, fluctuations, winners and, if we’re being real, the better outcome for the match we’re hoping to see. Once Medvedev lost the opener in Australia he was finished, but here, Djokovic is in a match.

Tistsipas takes the first set 7-6(6)

Djokovic (6)6-7 Tsitsipas This is bigger than Sam Allardyce is this, this is, is this – if Djokovic wins it, it’s hard to see a way back but if Tsitsipas wins it it who knows – and he responds brilliantly to a brilliant Djokovic return to earn his second set point at 6-7 – and he takes it! The return goes in, a big forehand follows, and Djokovic can only thrash wide!

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