Winner Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the trophy after the ultimate match of the ATP 250 Geneva Open tennis in opposition to Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, in Geneva, Switzerland on Might 24, 2025
| Picture Credit score: AP
Novak Djokovic made extra tennis historical past by profitable a a hundredth profession singles title on Saturday (Might 24, 2025) and his first in a metropolis that’s particular to his household.
Djokovic lastly reached his century after rallying to beat Hubert Hurkacz 5-7, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2) in additional than three hours within the Geneva Open ultimate. He misplaced his two earlier finals since his 99th title win 9 months in the past on the Paris Olympics at Roland-Garros.
He joins tennis greats Jimmy Connors, who has a report 109 titles, and Roger Federer on 103 as the one males with a century of event wins within the Open period.
The a hundredth adopted a sometimes robust and hard-working match, two days after his thirty eighth birthday and surrounded by his household within the Swiss metropolis the place some family members reside.
“I’m simply grateful to clinch the 100 right here,” Djokovic stated in an on-court interview. “I needed to work for it, that’s for certain.”
His spouse and kids joined him in Geneva to rejoice his birthday after slicing a time without work faculty, Djokovic quipped, additionally revealing another excuse why he grabbed a late wild-card entry into the final clay-court warmup for the French Open.
The lakeside metropolis is dwelling to a much-loved aunt and uncle, and cousins together with one who not too long ago gave beginning to a child the Djokovics actually wished to fulfill.
The three-time French Open champion now heads again to Paris wanting so as to add to his 24 Grand Slam singles titles. He has a first-round match on Monday (Might 26, 2025) in opposition to Mackenzie McDonald of the USA.
The Serb clinched with an ace down the center to finish a surge to victory after breaking Hurkacz’s serve for the primary time whereas trailing 4-3 within the deciding set. Djokovic took that break-point probability with a forehand cross-court winner advancing to the web on Hurkacz’s sliced half-volley.
“Hubert was in all probability nearer to the victory the whole match than I used to be,” Djokovic stated. “I don’t know the way I broke his serve.”
He’s the primary man within the Open period to win a title in 20 totally different seasons.
Djokovic’s a hundredth singles title got here practically 19 years after the primary in July 2006. That additionally was on clay, at Amersfoort within the Netherlands, in opposition to Nicolás Massú — the Chilean who now coaches Hurkacz.
“It’s actually inspiring the way you current your self on the court docket, off the court docket. It’s simply actually unimaginable what you’ve got achieved,” Hurkacz stated to the winner within the on-court trophy shows.
Djokovic collected his trophy in entrance of three golden balloons tethered to the court docket spelling out 1-0-0.
For the reason that Paris Olympics, he had misplaced finals on the Shanghai Masters to Jannik Sinner final 12 months, and the Miami Masters to Jakub Mensik in March.
Djokovic acquired rather more than the match apply he got here to Geneva for. He had fallen to fast exits in April from the earlier tournaments he entered within the European clay-court season, at Monte Carlo and Madrid.
Djokovic had break-point probabilities early within the first two units and didn’t take them. At 2-2 within the first set, Hurkacz saved the second of back-to-back probabilities with a robust service winner.
Hurkacz clinched the primary set together with his solely break-point probability when Djokovic double-faulted.
Within the opening recreation of the second set Hurkacz saved Djokovic’s subsequent probability with an overhead winner on the web. Within the tiebreaker, Djokovic dominated to pressure the decider.
Hurkacz instantly broke serve once more to steer the third set. He acquired the possibility when a low bouncing ball dived beneath Djokovic’s racket, and took it when the second-seeded Serb despatched a forehand lengthy.
Printed – Might 25, 2025 03:07 am IST