Novak Djokovic finally wins French Open for 4th major in row

   PARIS (AP) -- A French Open champion at long last, and the first man in nearly a half-century to win four consecutive major championships, Novak Djokovic grabbed a racket and etched a heart in the very red clay that had given him such heartache in the past.
   Then, when he finally was handed the La Coupe des Mousquetaires -- the one trophy he truly yearned for, the one he needed to complete a career Grand Slam -- Djokovic held it overhead, his eyes shut, before kissing it, exhaling and smiling broadly. Later, Djokovic's father and friends sipped champagne from it.
   In his 12th appearance at Roland Garros, and fourth final, the top-seeded Djokovic earned that elusive title with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory over No. 2 Andy Murray on Sunday, buoyed by a supportive crowd that repeatedly chanted his nickname, "No-le!"
   "It's really a very special moment," Djokovic said. "Perhaps the greatest moment of my career."
   Since losing the 2015 final in Paris, Djokovic has won 28 Grand Slam matches in a row, from Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year, to the Australian Open in January, and now, after quite a wait, the French Open.
   "This is something that is so rare in tennis," said Murray, who is now 2-8 in Grand Slam finals. "It's going to take a long time for it to happen again."
   The last man to hold all four major titles simultaneously was Rod Laver in 1969, when he earned a calendar-year Grand Slam. Djokovic now can set his sights on that ultimate tennis achievement; he's the first man since Jim Courier in 1992 to get halfway.
   Djokovic, a 29-year-old from Serbia, owns six titles from the Australian Open, three from Wimbledon and two from the U.S. Open for a Grand Slam total of 12. Among men, only Roger Federer (with 17), Rafael Nadal (14) and Pete Sampras (14) have more. Djokovic is also one of eight men with at least one championship at each major.