In 1969, Rodney George Laver completed what is known as the most recent men’s singles grand slam to date.It was his second Grand slam ,after 1962 , technically known as winning the all the four major tennis  tournaments  in a calendar year namely the French Open, Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open. That was the sequence Laver undertook in 1969 when the Australian open used to be the last grand slam of the year. Though the International Tennis Federation relaxed this technicality of winning all four in calendar year in 1982, Martina Navratilova by winning the French Open in 1984 was not acknowledged when she held  all four together and  so called non calendar grand slam took shape.

Strictly speaking, only 6 calendar grand slams have ever been achieved.In addition to Laver’s two feats  others in the group include  1938 Don Budge , 1953 Maureen Connolly, 1970 Maragret Court and 1988 Steffi Graf.In total  17 ( 10 women and 7 men ) have won a career grand slam , that is having won all the four in their career.Whilst Martina and Serena Williams have achieved the non calendar slam, Laver’s feat remains as the last time a men’s singles player has held all four simultaneously.

There have been recent close calls.Roger Federer had two  attempts foiled in 2006 and 2007 as did Novak Djokovic in 2012 all by  Rafael Nadal at the French Open finales. Rafa’s streak a  year earlier in 2011 Australian was stopped in the quarters by fellow countryman David Ferrer. Pete Sampras in 1994 French Open lost to Jim Courier in the quarters halting his run. Novak ‘s wins in last year’s Wimbledon, US Open and earlier in the year in Melbourne meant alongside a chance to complete career grand slam, he could hold all four slams at once.

Heading into Paris, for the French Open there couldn’t  be anyone more nervous than Djokovic. Its the slam he has struggled to win all along. 3 times a loser in the finals in 11 attempts in Paris prompted to jog memories of Ashe , Connors, Edberg, Becker, Sampras Hingis and  Davenport amongst the 12 who haven’t won it to complete a calendar grand slam.Would Novak Djokovic be the unlucky 13th to join that club ?

His anxiety showed in the inital rounds.Against Steve Darcis in the second round, he definitely didn’t look himself.The 4th round clash against Roberto Batistuta Agut was more gripping. He lost the first set and then the match was interrupted by rain which was another factor in Paris this year. He managed to claw back characteristically the following day  and negotiated Thomas Berdych in quarters without dropping a set. The new kid on the block Dominic Thiem was projected to cause issues in the semis.However, Novak played some scintillating tennis of the fortnight dropping just seven games.

In the final , Andy Murray awaited. Murray himself had reached a new high reaching his first French open final. Having dispatched big serving Ivo Karlovic and John Isner, he produced a sort of a shock downing defending champion Stanislaw Wawrinka in the semis. His ardent clay court run stretched in to the final as he took the first set 6-3. But back came Novak with some vengeance. Levelling up the second at 6-1, he meant business.He never looked back. It seemed Murray had deflated and couldn’t pick any momentum.The crowd for a change was backing Novak after what happenned in the previous year’s presentation ceremony. Novak dropped just six games in the next two sets closing out a four set win and laying claim to the famous Musketeers trophy.

Novak Djokovic can now claim his legendary status in the ranks of other past greats and not to mention greats of his own era .Nadal and Federer will always be his contemporaries and he finally is able to match them . Whether he makes it 17 of beyond is early to speculate but he definitelt will enjoy slam no 12 the most when all is said and done. Paris has accepted Novak in the end .