Novak Djokovic claimed his long-awaited 100th title after producing a spectacular comeback to defeat Hubert Hurkacz 5-7, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2) in a three-hour, five-minute battle at the Geneva Open final. “Incredible match,” he said. “Seven-six in the third with a full stadium, beautiful atmosphere. I’m just grateful to clinch the 100th here.”
Djokovic becomes the third man in the open era to reach the landmark achieved by Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103). He isthe first to win titles in 20 seasons.
It marks Djokovic’s first title since his triumph at the Paris Olympics last year. He had two previous opportunities to become a centurion, losing tough matches to Jannik Sinner in the final of the Shanghai Masters last October and Jakub Mensik in the Miami Open final in March.
Djokovic entered the Geneva Open, an ATP 250 event, at late notice as a wildcard after struggling throughout the clay court season with opening-round losses at the Monte Carlo Masters and the Madrid Open. After his defeat to Matteo Arnaldi in Spain, his third in a row, the 38-year-old pulled out of the Italian Open and ended his partnership with Andy Murray.
Although he found some form and rhythm in Geneva, Djokovic was second-best for much of the final, narrowly losing the first set before trailing by a break from early the deciding set against Hurkacz. At 4-2 to Hurkacz in set three, the big-serving Pole had not lost a point on serve in the set. As the pressure mounted, and Hurkacz’s forehand crumbled, Djokovic turned the match around before closing out an emphatic final-set tiebreak.
Instead of celebrating another stellar achievement, Djokovic will have to immediately shift his focus to the French Open, which begins on Sunday. He will face Mackenzie McDonald of the United States in the first round, a match that is unlikely to take place until Tuesday. He must recover well physically after a hard week.
Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu says she is working hard to regain full fitness in time for her first-round match in Paris after struggling with back spasms at the Strasbourg Open against Danielle Collins. “It’s not feeling 100%,” she said. “I had a spasm in Strasbourg and just been trying to manage it as best I can doing treatment. I’ve been on the practice court last night and this morning. It felt OK, but it’s different playing a match. I’m trying to do everything to get up to speed as fast as possible.”
On Friday, Raducanu said this injury was similar to the back injury that sidelined during the off-season in December. “I would say the one before Australia was worse,” said Raducanu. “This one I caught before it fully locked up.
“The treatment is a lot with the physios, a lot of it with heat. Been doing some needling. At the start of the year I was so scared of needles. It was my biggest phobia. That was the only way I was going to be able to play Australia. Since then, I’ve been dipping my toes into it because I know it helps even though I’m really scared of them.”
