Novak Djokovic Wins Record 23rd Grand Slam

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The Facts

  • Novak Djokovic has become the first male tennis player to win a record-breaking 23 Grand Slam singles titles, beating Norway's Casper Ruud in straight sets in the French Open final on Sunday.

  • The current World No. 3 also becomes the first man in tennis history to win all four grand slams at least three times — a Triple Career Slam. He has so far won a record ten trophies at the Australian Open, three at the French Open, seven at Wimbledon, and three at the US Open.


The Spin

Narrative A

Djokovic's achievements aren't a fluke. The legend won 11 of his Slam trophies after he turned 30 — a relatively late stage in the career of any tennis player — and there is little sign of him slowing down. Love him or hate him, you can't ignore that the Serbian is way ahead of his contemporaries.

Narrative B

Though Novak Djokovic has now surpassed tennis greats Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer by breaking this record, the poor example set by his platforming of anti-vaccination rhetoric has made him a clear outcast in tennis' Big Three. Regardless of his technical or sporting success, his high-profile, reckless response to COVID will always be more notable.


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