Novak Djokovic needed four Roland Garros finals to lift the desired trophy and achieve a career Grand Slam. After losing three finals in the last four years to Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka, Novak went all the way in 2016 to become the eighth player with all four Major titles.
Also, the Serb was only the third player who held all four Major titles at the same time after Don Budge and Rod Laver. Novak needed three hours and three minutes to topple Andy Murray 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in the title clash, overcoming a slow start to emerge at the top with a rock-solid performance from set number two.
Djokovic secured the 12th Major crown and left Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver behind him. The Serb moved closer to Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, the only rivals left in front of him. Murray defeated Djokovic in the Rome Masters finals a few weeks earlier, and he hoped to become the first British Roland Garros winner since Fred Perry in 1935.
Andy made a promising start before Novak shifted into a higher gear to seal the deal and lift the elusive trophy. Djokovic broke at love in the encounter’s opening game, and Murray seized the third break chance in game two to erase the deficit and get his name on the scoreboard.
Andy took charge and claimed the next three games in dominant fashion, dropping only two points and building a 4-1 advantage. The Briton held in game seven after three deuces to remain in front and seized the third set point in game nine when the Serb netted a backhand for 6-3 in 45 minutes.
Andy had never lost the Roland Garros match after taking the opener, but he was still miles away from the victory against such a strong opponent. Novak fended off a break chance at the start of the second set and grabbed a break in game two after Andy’s double fault.
Djokovic dropped only three points behind the initial shot in the next three games, and the pressure was on Murray to follow that pace.
Novak Djokovic achieved a career Grand Slam at Roland Garros 2016.
Instead, Novak broke him again at 4-1 with a backhand down the line winner and held at 15 in the next one for 6-1 in no time.
Both players created four break chances in the third set, and Djokovic made the difference thanks to his incredible mental strength and momentum. The Serb fended off all four and delivered two to claim the set 6-2 and make a massive step towards the finish line.
Andy missed an easy volley in game three to experience a break, and there was no way back from him from there. The Serb broke again two games later with a beautiful short backhand crosscourt winner that pushed him 4-1 ahead.
Murray squandered four break points in the next one, and Djokovic held at 30 in game eight to wrap up the set and move closer to the finish line after two hours and eight minutes. Andy struggled on the second serve big time, taking six out of 21 points in sets two and three and placing only six winners alongside 17 unforced errors!
Novak broke at 15 in the fourth set’s opening game and fired a service winner to bring the sixth game home and forge a 4-2 advantage. Djokovic dropped only one point behind the initial shot in the opening three service games and was on a steady course towards the title.
Novak broke at love in game seven with a forehand down the line winner and served for the title in the next one. Murray made one last push and grabbed his first break since the opener’s fourth game to reduce the deficit to 5-3.
The Briton held at 30 in game nine to prolong the battle, and the Serb served for the title for the second time at 5-4. Novak seized the third match point in game ten to emerge at the top and start a massive celebration of a historic achievement.
