After winning his first French Open, Novak Djokovic deliberately dragged his racket in an arc through the rust-colored clay of the court at Roland Garros. He then traced another arc, connecting the two lines to form a heart on the site of his historic victory. A few days before the final, he’d asked Gustavo Kuerten for permission to do so in the event that he won, given that Kuerten was the first to draw a heart in the same spot after winning in 2001.
That moment exemplifies Djokovic right now. He’s conducting himself with a graciousness and an ease both on and off the court that has catapulted him to the No. 1 spot, and, with his latest win, to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four Grand Slam titles at once. He’s only the third man to ever do so, and the eighth to win all four major tournaments.
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At Roland Garros, Djokovic’s game was fluid, his body almost elastic. There were few shots he couldn’t get to, especially in his final match against Andy Murray. Murray has come the closest to giving Djokovic a run for his money this year, since Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have been plagued by…
