Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud, Sunday 11th June
The French Open men’s singles final takes place on Sunday 11 June 2023 from 14:00 (BST) on the Court Phillipe-Chatrier at the Stade Roland Garros.
Third seed Novak Djokovic was first to book his place in the championship match in Paris, defeating world number one Carlos Alcaraz in four sets on Friday afternoon.
Djokovic will not only be chasing a third French Open title but a record-breaking 23rd men’s singles Grand Slam crown and a return to the top of the ATP Rankings.
The Serbian needs to win the French Open to take the world number one ranking away from the man he defeated in the last four.
Djokovic has now won 35 matches in a row at Roland Garros when he takes the first set of the encounter. He has only lost four times in the 84 French Open matches where he has won the opening set.
That is a stat that underlines how dangerous Djokovic is once he gets ahead in a match.
Djokovic uses his oppressive defensive skills to prevent his opponents from snatching back the impetus.
Alcaraz had made a game effort to fight back but a bout of severe cramp ultimately put paid to that and saw the tournament favourite bow out.
Djokovic is the second-oldest men’s singles finalist in the history of the French Open and will play in his 34th Grand Slam final on Sunday.
After Sunday’s championship match, Djokovic will have appeared in seven of the last eight Grand Slam finals.
Djokovic won the first three matches of his French Open campaign in straight sets but played four tiebreakers across those nine sets.
Karen Khachanov, in the last eight, was the first man to take a set off Djokovic and Alcaraz matched that – but he is yet to be taken the distance across this campaign.
Casper Ruud has looked close to his best as he has surged into his third Grand Slam final.
Ruud has seen off accomplished opponents with relative ease in the last two rounds thanks to fast starts, and knowing Djokovic’s record this will make the opening set of Sunday’s final a key frame in the ultimate destiny of the French Open title.
He may have only faced a seeded player for the first time in the last eight, but Ruud has been relatively efficient about wrapping up his matches once he takes control.
After a middling clay swing, Ruud would have taken great confidence from the way he overwhelmed Holger Rune in the last eight, but his self-belief will be put to the ultimate test when he seeks to break his Grand Slam duck in a match against Djokovic.
Last year, Ruud seemed to be overwhelmed by the occasion of facing his idol Rafael Nadal on his beloved Court Phillipe-Chatrier, and he cannot afford to take a moment to take it all in this time around.
French Open Finals 2023 Betting Tips
Djokovic has won all four of the previous meetings between himself and Ruud, but this will be their first meeting in a Grand Slam match. We predict Djokovic will prevail and lift the trophy. More Tennis
