Novak Djokovic made history in claiming the second Roland Garros men’s singles title of his career, battling back to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7(6) 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4.

The first man to beat 13-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal in Paris twice – this time from a set down in their semi-final clash, no less – produced his second comeback from two sets down of the tournament to prevail in four hours, 11 minutes.

With that, the world No. 1 claimed his 19th Grand Slam title, one shy of both Nadal and Roger Federer, and achieved something that his ‘Big Three’ rivals cannot yet matched: winning all four Grand Slam singles titles at least twice. Djokovic is the first man to achieve the feat in the Open era, joining Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams.

“Of course, I am thrilled and I'm very proud of this achievement,” Djokovic said. “I think part of the history of the sport that I love with all my heart is always something that is very inspiring and very fulfilling for me. I couldn't be happier and more satisfied with this kind of scenario in the last 48 hours. Probably ranks at the top three all-time achievements and experiences that I had in my professional tennis career.”

For the first time in 29 Grand Slam final appearances, Djokovic won the title after trailing by two sets – a testament to the challenge posed by Tsitsipas in his maiden Grand Slam final appearance as much as his own powers of recovery. The Greek was in phenomenal form early on, going toe-to-toe with the top seed before seeing a set point come and go at 5-4, recovering a break in the next game to reach a tiebreak, then saving set point before moving ahead after 72 minutes.

Playing on a balmy afternoon in Paris after Barbora Krejcikova had added the women’s doubles title to Saturday’s singles crown alongside compatriot Katerina Siniakova, Djokovic and Tsitsipas explored the full geometry of the vast Court Philippe Chatrier clay. The Greek’s one-handed backhand in particular stood up to stern examination from Djokovic, who time and again turned to the drop shot to change the tenor of their baseline exchanges.

Tsitsipas had reached the final after a five-set semi-final victory over Alexander Zverev, but the toll of Djokovic’s four-set victory over Nadal, the later and longer of Friday’s two titanic clashes, appeared to be in evidence. A heavy fall at 3-3 in the first suggested the Serb was far from fresh, and when the No. 5 seed ran away with the second set, a comeback to eclipse his fourth-round win over Italian teen Lorenzo Musetti seemed a long way off.

But Djokovic can never be counted out. A critical game at 2-1 in the third went his way on break point No. 5, the only chances to break of the set for either player, after which Tsitsipas called for treatment on his lower back and thighs. Just as his own conditioning began to wane, Djokovic was rejuvenated, firing 17 winners as he raced through the fourth set in 36 minutes.

Tsitsipas hunkered down gamely in the final set, but in truth he was surviving rather than threatening. Djokovic broke early and dropped just three points on serve until the final game, when the Greek saved one match point. He could not save a second.

“I don't think I have regrets,” said Tsitsipas, the first Greek player in history to reach a Grand Slam final. “Could have easily cried, but I see no reason for me crying because I tried everything. I couldn't come up with anything better.”

Having taken Djokovic, 11 years his senior, to five sets for a second time in Paris following last year’s semi-final clash, the 22-year-old underscored his reputation as a champion-in-waiting. For now, though, Djokovic remains the man to beat. With the Australian Open and Roland Garros titles to his name in 2021, talk inevitably turns to the prospect of those other mythic major achievements: a Calendar Grand Slam, or even in this Olympic year, a Golden Slam.

“Everything is possible,” Djokovic said. “I did put myself in a good position to go for the Golden Slam. But, you know, I was in this position in 2016 as well; it ended up in a third-round loss in Wimbledon.

“I will enjoy this win and then think about Wimbledon in a few days' time. I don't have an issue to say that I'm going for the title in Wimbledon – of course I am. I won in 2018 and 2019 there. Hopefully I can use this confidence that I have right now into Wimbledon, as well. Then let's take it from there.”

Ominous words, imperious form, and another Roland Garros crown. Chapeau, Novak.