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
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Novak Djokovic made extra tennis historical past by profitable a one centesimal 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 remaining. 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 document 109 titles, and Roger Federer on 103 as the one males with a century of match wins within the Open period.
The one centesimal adopted a usually robust and hard-working match, two days after his thirty eighth birthday and surrounded by his household within the Swiss metropolis the place some kinfolk 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 youngsters joined him in Geneva to have a good time his birthday after reducing a day without work faculty, Djokovic quipped, additionally revealing one more reason why he grabbed a late wild-card entry into the final clay-court warmup for the French Open.
The lakeside metropolis is residence to a much-loved aunt and uncle, and cousins together with one who lately gave start to a child the Djokovics actually wished to fulfill.
The three-time French Open champion now heads again to Paris trying 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 US.
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 understand how I broke his serve.”
He’s the primary man within the Open period to win a title in 20 completely different seasons.
Djokovic’s one centesimal 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 courtroom, off the courtroom. It’s simply actually unbelievable what you’ve gotten 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 courtroom spelling out 1-0-0.
Because the Paris Olympics, he had misplaced finals on the Shanghai Masters to Jannik Sinner final yr, and the Miami Masters to Jakub Mensik in March.
Djokovic acquired rather more than the match follow 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 possibilities 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 possibilities with a robust service winner.
Hurkacz clinched the primary set along 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 internet. Within the tiebreaker, Djokovic dominated to power the decider.
Hurkacz instantly broke serve once more to guide the third set. He acquired the possibility when a low bouncing ball dived below Djokovic’s racket, and took it when the second-seeded Serb despatched a forehand lengthy.
Printed – Might 25, 2025 03:07 am IST
