No, you are not dreaming. Novak Djokovic did pass through Metz a few years ago, in 2006 to be precise. He even won one of his first tournaments there. Followers of the Moselle Open still remember it as if it were yesterday. Narrative.
It only took a few seconds for Novak Djokovic to enter the hearts of the Mosellans. First by brilliantly winning what in 2006 was still called the Moselle Open, then by celebrating this same title with a French football team jersey on my back. Iconic.
Arriving as an outsider at the time, the Serb was the executioner of two French players: Nicolas Mahut in the first round then Sébastien Grosjean, with a little more difficulty, in the semi-final. In the final, Novak Djokovic faces the Austrian Jürgen Melzer. At that moment, his opponent was a world away from knowing that he had stumbled upon an alien. Because after letting the first set slip away and at barely 19 years old, the future world number 1 showed his enthusiasm to win in three sets. Only his second title in his young career.
A moment of history engraved forever in the pantheon of the Moselle Open. A year later, the Serbian entered another galaxy by climbing onto the podium in the ATP rankings. Almost 20 years later, the slender and innocent Novak Dkovovic became the first man to win a Grand Slam 24 times. A living tennis legend who today has 99 titles to his name. So, after so many successes, it is good to remember the place where the myth was born.
Find all our content on the Moselle Open 2024 edition on our dedicated page. And if you missed the previous episode…
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