French Open: Novak Djokovic turns 0: 2 set deficit against Tsitsipas for the 19th Grand Slam title
Novak Djokovic won the French Open in 2021. In the final he beat the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in his first major final with 6: 7 (6), 2: 6, 6: 3, 6: 2 and 6: 4 (you can read the match in the tennisnet live ticker here!)
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jun 13, 2021, 07:23 pm
Novak Djokovic has once again shown great comeback qualities and converted a 2-0 set deficit into a victory - specifically into his 19th Grand Slam title. After 2016, Djokovic won the French Open for the second time.
At the beginning, Tsitsipas had to fight harder in his own service games, and strong serves helped him out of trouble in the first service game. Nevertheless, he got the first set ball at 5: 4, but Djokovic fended off. And finally broke to 6: 5, followed, however, by a horrible own service game.
In the tie-break the quick 4-0 for Tsitsipas, Djokovic still made it 6: 5, also thanks to a happy Volleystop with the edge of the net. But Tsitsipas bravely fended off and made a return of the world number one as a half volley from the baseline into the corner. And tried a Djokovic mistake to lead the sentence with his own set ball.
Djokovic also gave up the first service game in the second round, then missed a 0:30 with an undecided smash. Tsitsipas, however, played strong, with a lot of pressure and topspin, while Djokovic was always missing a step and was anxious to shorten the points through a rather untypical clay court game. The set ball from Tsitsipas to 6: 2 he let pass him with almost no resistance. Did he have physical problems after the insane semifinals against Rafael Nadal? Djokovic left the court at the break of the set, came back with a red shirt and possibly new courage - as often after an apparent knockout
Novak Djokovic turns up after a 2-0 set deficit
In a long service game at 1: 2, Djokovic again presented the usual bite, the fourth break chance sat, to the annoyance of Tsitsipas. The fifth in the world ranking, garnished with a 22: 3 sand balance in 2021, now showed angry reactions for the first time, stayed on, but Djokovic served in the end to 6: 3. Tsitsipas had to undergo treatment on his lower back during the break in sentences.
Only Djokovic continued to play in the fourth round, Tsitsipas had completely lost his line and was quickly 4-0 down, then gave a sign of life by winning two service games.
So the decision had to be made: Tsitsipas narrowly won the important first service game and shook his fist for the first time after two sets. The 34-year-old Djokovic was the better, the fitter player, who then managed the break to 2-1. And who didn't have to do too much, except to play stable tennis - against a flat-looking opponent who was able to prevent another break with difficulty, but in the end didn't have much to oppose when Djokovic served.
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