For two weeks, the 2021 French Open delivered drama, excitement, and some outstanding tennis. Only two players, however, survived until the end, with Novak Djokovic and Barbora Krejcikova reigning supreme in the men's and women's singles events in the year's second Grand Slam.
Djokovic claims second French Open crown
Novak Djokovic just wouldn't be denied in this year's French Open. Looking down and out after dropping the first two sets against Stefanos Tsitsipas, Djokovic once again showed his remarkable powers of recovery, recording a stunning 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 comeback victory in the final. It was another stunning turnaround by Djokovic, who lifted his second Coupe des Mousquetaires title.
Djokovic now has a whopping 19 Grand Slam titles with the victory, just one shy of the record 20 major wins shared by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. This French Open crown might be the best of the lot, though, as Djokovic took the hardest road on his way to the title. He battled back from two sets down in the fourth round to beat Lorenzo Musetti before defeating Berrettini in a tough four-setter in the quarterfinals.
He then survived the ultimate test in all of sport, beating the King of Clay Rafael Nadal in an epic semifinal. He handed Nadal just his third loss in 108 matches at Roland Garros, winning in four tough sets, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2 in a match that lasted four hours and 22 minutes. Nadal was 26-0 in the semifinals and finals of the French Open before that loss, further showing the enormity of Djokovic's accomplishment.
The main concern, however, for Djokovic heading into the final was the physical and mental strain that Nadal match brought upon his body. That certainly was the case in the early going as Tsitsipas looked the fresher athlete, racing to a quick two-set lead against Djokovic. The world no. 1 battled back strongly, though, eventually winning the match in four hours and 11 minutes. The 34-year-old now becomes the first player in the Open Era to win every Grand Slam twice.
Related Article: 2021 French Open: Krejcikova, Pavlyuchenkova to Contest Women's Title in Roland Garros
Krejcikova snags rare Roland Garros double
To say that Barbora Krejcikova had a great French Open would be a severe understatement. The Czech star created more history on Sunday as she became the first woman since Mary Pierce in 2000 to win both the singles and doubles events at Roland Garros.
Krejcikova first made history in the singles event on Saturday after beating 31st-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, in a nerve-filled final that lasted one hour and 58 minutes. She struck 34 winners to become the first woman from her country to clinch the French Open singles crown since Hana Mandlikova captured the title in 1981.
Krejcikova then pulled off the rare feat by winning the doubles crown alongside longtime partner Katerina Siniakova. The Czech duo defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Iga Swiatek, 6-4, 6-2, in a doubles final that featured the two most recent singles champions. It was the third doubles crown for Krejcikova and Siniakova, who won the French Open and Wimbledon titles back in 2018.
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