NOVAK DJOKOVIC fell to the court as he completed tennis' career slam, overcoming Andy Murray in the French Open final to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four grand slam titles at the same time.
Murray won the first set 6-3, but Djokovic showed imperious form to take the second and third sets for the loss of just three games. And despite a slight wobble in the fourth set when Murray recovered - pumping his fist and shouting encouragement to himself - he rallied to claim it 6-4 and the match 3-1, the first time he has won at Roland Garros at the third time of asking.
After embracing Murray, he put his hands on his knees and stared at the court, before drawing a heart shape with his racquet in the red clay and lying on the ground on his back. In the stands, his parents embraced as applause rang out around Court Philippe Chatrier.
It takes the 29-year-old Serb to 12 grand slam titles, joint fourth with Australian Roy Emerson, behind Rafael Nadal and Pete Sampras on 14 and Roger Federer on 17. For Murray, appearing in his first French Open final, it was another blow as he came up short at the final hurdle in a grand slam for an eighth time.
