May 24, (THEWILL) – Novak Djokovic reached a significant milestone in professional tennis by winning his 100th ATP singles title at the Geneva Open in Switzerland. The Serbian champion defeated Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 5-7 7-6(2) 7-6(2) in a three-set contest that required two hours and 37 minutes to complete. Djokovic joins an exclusive group of only three men in the Open Era to achieve this feat, alongside Jimmy Connors (109 titles) and Roger Federer (103 titles).
Djokovic began the match poorly, losing the opening set after committing a double fault. Hurkacz, who had never previously defeated Djokovic in seven meetings, maintained his strong start and appeared confident throughout the early stages. However, Djokovic’s experience proved decisive in the crucial moments of the second and third sets, where he won both tiebreaks convincingly.
Court conditions at the Geneva Open presented challenges for both players throughout the match. Strange bounces and slippery surfaces caused visible frustration, with both competitors struggling to maintain their footing at various points. Despite these obstacles, Djokovic adapted better in the decisive moments, capitalising on Hurkacz’s errors when the Polish player served at 4-3 in the final set.
The 37-year-old showed minimal emotion upon winning, walking calmly to the centre court before raising his arms in celebration. Hurkacz’s record against Djokovic now stands at 0-8, with five of those defeats coming in tiebreak situations.
Attention now shifts to the French Open, where Djokovic will attempt to win his 25th Grand Slam title. The Serbian faces American, Mackenzie McDonald, in the first round at Roland Garros, whilst Hurkacz will meet Brazilian player, Joao Fonseca. Djokovic’s preparation for the clay court major appears ideal following this confidence-boosting victory in Geneva.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
