Novak Djokovic made history at the 2016 French Open by completing a career Grand Slam.
In short: In 2016, Novak Djokovic achieved a feat not seen in tennis since 1969. By defeating Andy Murray in the French Open final, he secured his first title on the Parisian clay, simultaneously holding all four major championships. This historic victory cemented his status as a dominant force in modern tennis.
The 2016 French Open was a tournament of significant milestones and notable absences. Novak Djokovic’s victory, with a final score of 3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4, marked his twelfth major title overall. This win was particularly historic as it completed his career Grand Slam and established a non-calendar year Grand Slam. By holding all four major titles at once, Djokovic became the first man to achieve this feat on three different surfaces since Rod Laver accomplished the same in 1969. During the event, he also celebrated his 200th week as world No. 1 in the ATP rankings, including 100 consecutive weeks at the top spot, while pushing his record-breaking ranking points total to 16,950.
While Djokovic ascended, other legends faced setbacks. Roger Federer, who had maintained a then-record streak of 65 consecutive major appearances since the 2000 Australian Open, withdrew before the tournament to avoid fitness risks. This marked the first time in the 21st century that Federer missed a main draw singles major. Similarly, nine-time champion Rafael Nadal was forced to withdraw before his third-round match due to a wrist injury, altering the competitive landscape of the clay-court event.
The tournament also highlighted the rise of new talent and the persistence of established contenders. Andy Murray’s path to the final made him the first British man to reach the French Open final since Bunny Austin in 1937, ensuring he had reached the final of all four majors during his career. Meanwhile, the tournament served as the first main-draw French Open appearance for Alexander Zverev, who was eventually defeated by Dominic Thiem in the third round. These shifts in the field underscored a transitional period in professional tennis, where long-standing records were challenged by both injury and the emergence of a new generation of players.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2016 French Open – Men's singles
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