19:59 (IST)
Novak Djokovic 6-7, 0-1 *Stefanos Tsitsipas (* denotes next server)
BREAK! Stefanos Tsitsipas starts by breaking the Novak Djokovic serve. A far cry from the start of the opening set where Djokovic held three straight games at love. Now Tsitsipas is control. Has three break points. Squanders one with an error. And then Djokovic sends his forehand long.
19:54 (IST)
First set Stefanos Tsitsipas!
Debutant Determination 👍
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 13, 2021
Tsitsipas displays grit and guile to capture the opening set in his first Slam final 7-6(6).#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/oxDp0Jcfel
19:53 (IST)
First set: Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (6)
Stefanos Tsitsipas takes the first set 7-6 (6) in an hour and 19 minutes. He couldn't get a point on the Djokovic serve at the start. And then he turned things around to save a set point and then breaking back.
19:51 (IST)
1st set tiebreak
6-6: Tsitsipas with a great forehand, it jumps up and Djokovic with a tricky ball to deal with. The backhand goes long and Tsitsipas has a second set point.
6-7: CONVERTED! Tsitsipas with a big forehand and it forces Djokovic into a mistake. First set Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (6)
19:50 (IST)
1st set tiebreak
2-4: STUNNER! Djokovic looks to take Tsitsipas out of the court with a loopy forehand with plenty of angle and side spin. Tsitipas rocks back and punches a forehand winner down the line.
2-5: Djokovic with much better play now. Dragging Tsitsipas to the extremeties of the court. The Greek tries to slide the ball deep but it goes long.
3-5: Djokovic with an incredible volley. Lots of luck to it too. Djokovic is at the net, Tsitsipas with a good, low shot at him but the Serb somehow gets it over. Helped by the frame of the racket and the net.
4-5: This time the volley is hit better by Djokovic but it allows Tsitsipas to move up and get to it. The forehand, though, is into the net.
5-5: Djokovic moving Tsitsipas around once again. And forcing Tsitsipas into making an error. From 0-4 down, Djokovic has now won six straight points.
5-6: Set point for Djokovic. Djokovic with a great return, into Tsitsipas, it is low, struck well and Stefanos had little time to react. But he moves like a flash and smacks a forehand winner into the other corner of the court. WHAT A SHOT! It is 6-6 in the tiebreaker
19:44 (IST)
1st set tiebreak
0-0: Tsitsipas serves and Djokovic misses the return.
0-1: Djokovic with a double fault.
0-2: Tsitsipas with the more positive tennis at the moment. He is dominating, going for his shots, Djokovic struggling with his movement and Tsitsipas with a big backhand to force an error from the Serb.
0-3: Another miss from Djokovic as Tsitsipas continues to run away with it.
0-4: Now Tsitsipas takes a tumble. Djokovic with a good approach shot and moves up to the net. The volley catches Tsitsipas off and he tumbles while trying to get to it.
1-4: Djokovic with a sensational drop shot and Tsitsipas is nowhere near it. Considers going for it but it is played very well. At the change of ends, Tsitsipas is 4-2 up.
19:39 (IST)
Novak Djokovic 6-6 Stefanos Tsitsipas (* denotes next server)
Novak Djokovic serving for the first set. Starts by stumbling once again and looking at his box. Had the opportunity to hit a pass with Tsitsipas at the net but the backhand is into the net. Another error from the backhand as Djokovic goes for a drop shot. Tsitsipas is pumped. Djokovic's first serve is faltering - dropping from 90+% a game ago to 70+% now. Tsitsipas with a deep forehand return and Djokovic makes another error. Three break points for Stefanos. One saved. Djokovic capitalises on the ball bouncing up after Tsitsipas' shot hits the tape and jumps up. Two more chances. And TSITSIPAS BREAKS BACK! Djokovic is pushed and hustled into a forehand error. Into the tiebreak we go!
19:34 (IST)
Novak Djokovic* 6-5 Stefanos Tsitsipas (* denotes next server)
Looks like the shackles are off from both players. At 0-15, Tsitsipas gets a time violation warning. Djokovic with some uncharacteristic errors to allow Tsitsipas to come back into the game. Only to come back and play a dodgy shot on a ball that spun away from him while staying low. Tsitsipas looks to go down the line with the backhand but finds the net. Break point for Djokovic. 9 shot rally ensues and on the 10th shot, Tsitsipas gets impatient and goes for too much on the forehand to send the ball wide. BREAK!
19:29 (IST)
Novak Djokovic 5-5 *Stefanos Tsitsipas (* denotes next server)
Return of the Djokosmash! Novak with a missed smash to start the serve as he looks to prolong this first set. Unrelated and absolutely irrelevant that he started the Nadal match with two missed smashes. As Djokovic's first serve percentage drops, Tsitsipas is taking over. He is taking the initiative and going after the serve from the word go. Only for Djokovic to serve an ace down the T to make it 30-30. Stefanos with good length on the forehand with lots of spin and Djokovic mishits. Set point for Tsitsipas. And Djokovic saves it after an incredible 25-shot rally. Djokovic nearly hit it long once or twice before reducing the length of his shots and Tsitsipas sends hia backhand long. On deuce, Tsitsipas looks ot find the sideline but misses. Narrowly. Djokovic continues to apply pressure and this time Tsitsipas buckles. The Greek's forehand, squash-like slice, is into the net.
19:21 (IST)
Novak Djokovic* 4-5 Stefanos Tsitsipas (* denotes next server)
Ace! Forehand winner down the line! Backhand volley winner! Forehand winner! A quick hold from Tsitsipas. That final point the best of the day. Djokovic with a drop shot and once again doesn't go up to close the angle. He does get to it and pushes it up for Tsitsipas to try and chase. The Greek does scramble and get to it and hits a forehand winner past Djokovic at the net. Tsitsipas is 5/5 at the net today.
19:18 (IST)
Novak Djokovic 4-4 *Stefanos Tsitsipas (* denotes next server)
A Djokovic error earns Tsitsipas his first point on the Novak serve. And a forehand going long gets him the second. But he holds on with ease to make it four games all.
19:13 (IST)
Novak Djokovic* 3-4 Stefanos Tsitsipas (* denotes next server)
DJOKOVIC IS DOWN! Great point between the two players from the back of the court before Djokovic hits a drop shot and then Tsitsipas sends an angled drop shot of his own. Djokovic gets caught with his shoe on to the clay as he moves forward and tumbles between the net and the Peugeut sign. That could be nasty. Djokovic walks across to the chair and cleans himself off. He has been on the ground and suffered some sort of issue for three straight matches. Meanwhile, Tsitsipas goes on and holds serve.
19:08 (IST)
Novak Djokovic 3-3 *Stefanos Tsitsipas (* denotes next server)
An ace and Djokovic with a third straight love hold. He's got 11/12 first serves in and won 11/11 first serve points. Impressive start.
19:06 (IST)
Bjorn Borg in attendance for the final. He will be presenting the trophy to the eventual winner
Legend looking on. No pressure 😃
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 13, 2021
Pleasure to see our six-time champion, Bjorn Borg.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/hF7nEW1uwA
19:04 (IST)
Novak Djokovic* 2-3 Stefanos Tsitsipas (* denotes next server)
Both players using the full width of the court to push the opponent. Tsitsipas has Djokovic moving to the forehand and to the backhand before killing off the high ball at the net with a smash. At 30-0, Tsitsipas caught in two minds about a deep Djokovic ball. He is unsure whether it landed in or out and the chair umpire confirms it did land in. An errant forehand from Stefanos brings the game to 30-30. Tsitsipas capitalises on an ace and Djokovic's missed backhand to keep the match on serve
19:00 (IST)
Novak Djokovic 2-2 *Stefanos Tsitsipas (* denotes next server)
Yet another love hold for Novak Djokovic. The points started to get longer as the game went on but Djokovic closes it out with a gorgeous drop shot.
18:56 (IST)
Novak Djokovic* 1-2 Stefanos Tsitsipas (* denotes next server)
Great tennis from Tsitsipas to start the game. A big forehand to eke out a defensive backhand from Djokovic and then moves up to the net to punch a simple volley for a winner. At 30-0, couple of big forehands once again by Tsitsipas. First he goes inside-out and then down the line for a winner despite Djokovic's desperate slap back shot. Holds with an ace. Up to four aces now. Excellent hold!
18:53 (IST)
Novak Djokovic 1-1 *Stefanos Tsitsipas (* denotes next server)
In sharp contrast to Stefanos Tsitsipas, Novak Djokovic starts with a comfortable hold. A love hold for the World No 1.
18:50 (IST)
Novak Djokovic* 0-1 Stefanos Tsitsipas (* denotes next server)
Nervous start from Stefanos Tsitsipas with the serve. Gets the match going with a double fault and missing his first serve. Third unforced error in the game, a forehand going wide, brings the game to a second deuce. On deuce, Novak Djokovic pounces on the serve with a return winner. Tsitsipas saves break point with a beautiful one-handed backhand winner. Sweetly struck. Djokovic brings up another break point after vintage defensive tennis. Much of what we saw him produce against Nadal. Tsitsipas saves yet another break point - with an ace. Back-to-back aces now. Make that three straight aces to hold serve!
18:38 (IST)
Aurélie Tourte is in the chair for the men's final
Aurélie Tourte will be the chair umpire for today's men's final, becoming the fifth woman to officiate a men’s singles final at a Grand Slam.
— Victoria Chiesa (@vrcsports) June 13, 2021
She’s the second to do so at #RolandGarros, joining her compatriot Sandra de Jenken (2007). 🇫🇷
Well-deserved is an understatement.
18:38 (IST)
Stefanos Tsitsipas wins the toss and opts to serve.
The Championship walk 🚶♂️
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 13, 2021
🇷🇸 Djokovic vs. Tsitsipas 🇬🇷#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/oTemdNXMFC
18:35 (IST)
Players walk up the stairs
Stefanos Tsitsipas is the first to walk up the stairs and step up to the Court Philippe Chatrier. Huge ovation for the Greek making his first appearance at this stage of a Slam. Up next is Novak Djokovic who has been here before. Quite a few times. A big ovation for him too. The crowd could well be split in allegiance based on the early sounds.
18:32 (IST)
Who you backing to win today?
blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Who are you backing to win this contest?
Let us know down below :point_down:#RolandGarros Live: https://t.co/FXfGgod6nl
18:31 (IST)
And from the Tsitsipas camp
Final prep 🏋️♂️#RolandGarros | @steftsitsipas pic.twitter.com/GD7RWqilQt
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 13, 2021
18:30 (IST)
Limbering up for Djokovic vs Tsitsipas
The final countdown ⏰#RolandGarros | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/efexk4cALx
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 13, 2021
18:29 (IST)
Are you ready for the final?
History awaits 👀#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/Yq7JX5K5bI
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 13, 2021
18:27 (IST)
Run to the final: Stefanos Tsitsipas
18:21 (IST)
That's a bold claim by Patrick!
Mouratoglou: "When he will be at 100 percent, Tsitsipas will be the world No. 1. He is Federer and more muscled!" (Via L'Equipe)
— Luigi Gatto (@gigicat7_) June 13, 2021
18:16 (IST)
Run to the final: Novak Djokovic
18:08 (IST)
Head-to-head
Playing his 29th Slam final, Djokovic holds a 5-2 record over Tsitsipas. At last year's Roland Garros, Djokovic won their semi-final over five sets.
17:58 (IST)
What they're fighting for: Tsitsipas
- Victory on Sunday would make him the first Greek player to win a Slam title
- He would also become the youngest champion in Paris since Nadal in 2008 and overall at the Slams since Juan Martin del Potro at the 2009 US Open.
17:52 (IST)
What they're fighting for: Djokovic
- Novak Djokovic can become the first man in 52 years to win all four Grand Slam titles twice
- Djokovic can pocket a 19th Slam with victory and move just one behind the record of 20 jointly held by Nadal and Federer.
17:42 (IST)
Before we get into the men's singles final, in the women's doubles final, Katerina Siniakova and Barbora Krajcikova beat Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-2. A double for Krejcikova then to win both singles and doubles titles. The last woman to do so at French Open was Mary Pierce in 2000. What a fantastic two weeks for the Czech!
17:31 (IST)
Men's singles final
On Day 15 of Roland Garros, Novak Djokovic takes on Stefanos Tsitsipas in the men's singles final. Djokovic is chasing his 19th Grand Slam title while this is just the first final for Tsitsipas. They're on different sides of the spectrum as far as ages are concerned with Novak 34 and Stefanos 22.
As big a deal, as significant an accomplishment, as it was for Novak Djokovic to eliminate Rafael Nadal in the French Open semifinals, there is still another match to play in Paris.
And that four-set, four-hour-plus victory over 13-time Roland Garros champion Nadal really won't mean much to Djokovic in the scheme of things if he can't finish the job Sunday by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas, too.
He doesn't enter Grand Slam tournaments to get to finals (this will be his 29th, 28 more than his much younger opponent).
He has made perfectly clear that all he really cares about at this stage of his career is winning them, and a victory over Tsitsipas would give the 34-year-old from Serbia a second French Open championship and, more importantly, a 19th major overall.
That would be Djokovic’s seventh title in a span of 11 Slams and move him within just one of the men's-record 20 accumulated by his two great rivals, Roger Federer and Nadal.
Djokovic has won five of their previous seven encounters, although Tsitsipas did push him to five sets before losing in the semifinals of the 2020 French Open.
Novak's the fourth-oldest finalist at Roland Garros in the Open era, which dates to 1968; the 22-year-old Tsitsipas is the youngest since Nadal won the title in 2008.
The age gap between Djokovic and Tsitsipas is the largest for a French Open men's final since Mats Wilander, 17, defeated Guillermo Vilas, 29, in 1982.
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