Djokovic Had A Feeling About This Year's Roland Garros

From the start of the fortnight, Novak Djokovic just had a feeling about this year’s Roland Garros. He felt a closer connection to the fans than he had in past years. He even felt more connected to the people who make the tournament run on a daily basis, the security officials and the ball kids.

“It was just different,” said Djokovic, who had lost in the Roland Garros final three previous times.

The tournament certainly ended differently for the World No. 1. Djokovic beat Andy Murray for the fifth time in a Grand Slam final on Sunday to win his first Roland Garros title 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

The Serbian also joined the sport’s all-time elite in two big ways. He became the third player in history to hold all four major titles at one time, joining Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962, 1969). Djokovic also became the eighth man to win all four Grand Slams during his career, joining Fred Perry, Budge, Laver, Roy Emerson, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

“I was hoping that this is the year,” Djokovic said. “I felt that kind of support and love from the people around that allowed me to be sitting here with the trophy… That kind of support was very well present at the stadium today.”

The crowd was pulling for Djokovic and history, and the 29 year old did not let them down. After dropping the first set, Djokovic rolled for nearly three consecutive sets.

“I needed a little bit of time to really find the right rhythm and to start playing the way I intended, which happened in the beginning of the second and practically until 5-2 in the fourth set. It was flawless tennis,” Djokovic said. “I really felt like I played high quality and put a lot of pressure on Andy’s serves.”

The 12-time Grand Slam champion showed he was human when he first tried to clinch the title. He lost his first two match points before completing the career Grand Slam when Murray netted a backhand.

“In the last point I don’t even remember what happened. It was really one of those things, moments where you just try to be there. It’s like my spirit left my body and I was just observing my body,” Djokovic said. “A thrilling moment. One of the most beautiful I have had in my career.”

Djokovic, who’s reached six consecutive Grand Slam finals, even dared to dream about joining another historic list and talked about pursuing the calendar-year Grand Slam for the remainder of the season. The last man to win that was Laver in 1969.

“I really think everything is achievable in life,” Djokovic said. “Whether or not I can reach a Calendar Slam, that’s still a possibility. But I don’t think about it right now. Right now, I just [want] to enjoy this experience of winning the trophy that I [had] never won before.”