NEW DELHI: World number one Novak Djokovic has accepted a wild card to compete in the Geneva ATP tournament next week. This move comes as Djokovic aims to address a concerning dip in form ahead of his French Open title defence.
Turning 37 on Wednesday, Djokovic is seeking to regain his competitive edge on the clay courts of Geneva.
Joining Djokovic at the Swiss event are notable players such as three-time major winner Andy Murray and the seventh-ranked Casper Ruud. The presence of these top-tier players adds significant prestige and competition to the tournament, setting the stage for an exciting lead-up to the French Open.
"He will enter in the second round, either on Tuesday or Wednesday," a spokesman for the tournament told AFP with the Serb star likely to enjoy a bye in the first round.
Djokovic, the holder of a men's record 24 Grand Slam titles, is experiencing a challenging season by his high standards. In 2024, he has yet to reach a final, with his best performances being runs to the semi-finals of both the Australian Open and the Monte Carlo Masters.
His struggles continued with a third-round exit at the Rome Open, where he was defeated by the relatively unknown Alejandro Tabilo of Chile.
Adding to his woes, Djokovic suffered an injury at the Italian venue when he was accidentally hit on the head by a water bottle while signing autographs.
Though he initially laughed off the incident, even arriving at a training session wearing a cycling crash helmet for humor, he later disclosed that he had been experiencing nausea and dizzy spells as a result.
Djokovic will be chasing his 99th tour-level title at the Geneva tournament, aiming to build momentum ahead of his French Open title defence.
(With AFP inputs)
