French Open win a ‘long shot’ for Novak Djokovic

Djokovic has 18 Grand Slam titles to his name -- two behind the record of 20 shared by Nadal and Roger Federer. However, only one of those has been captured at Roland Garros, in 2016 when Nadal withdrew with a wrist injury after the second round. Djokovic was swept aside by Nadal in the 2020 final. Before that, he had lost three other finals in Paris, two also to Nadal and one against Stan Wawrinka. However, Djokovic still has a place in the record books to target as he hopes to become the first man in over half a century, and just the third in history, to win all four majors more than once. Also, he remains just one of two men to beat Nadal at the French Open, in the last-eight in 2015. For Nadal, Roland Garros, which gets underway on May 30, means a chance for a 14th Paris title and record 21st Grand Slam crown. 

"I really wanted this title," Nadal, 34, said Sunday after winning his 10th Rome trophy. "This had been one of the first important titles I won in my career. I'd won 10 in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Roland Garros and really wanted this one too." Djokovic will play on home clay again in Belgrade the week before Roland Garros. Nadal will head home to Mallorca to fine-tune his game. "I think I have been improving this week, but I need to keep going with that improvement," he said Sunday. "When you improve and you're able to do it every day for a longer time, then you feel more confident and more safe."

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