GENEVA — Novak Djokovic lastly clinched his a centesimal profession singles title by rallying to beat Hubert Hurkacz 5-7, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2) in additional than three hours Saturday to turn out to be the Geneva Open champion.
Djokovic had misplaced his two earlier finals since his 99th title win 9 months in the past on the Paris Olympics at Roland Garros.
The a centesimal was after a sometimes robust and hardworking match, two days after his thirty eighth birthday and surrounded by his household within the Swiss metropolis the place a few of his relations reside.
“I am 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.”
Djokovic joins tennis greats Jimmy Connors, who has a report 109 titles, and Roger Federer (103) as the one males within the Open period with a century of event wins.
The three-time French Open champion heads again to Paris wanting so as to add to his 24 Grand Slam singles titles. Djokovic has a French Open first-round match Monday in opposition to Mackenzie McDonald of the US.
The Serb clinched Saturday 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 most likely nearer to the victory your entire match than I used to be,” Djokovic stated. “I do not understand how I broke his serve.”
Djokovic is the primary man within the Open period to win a title in 20 seasons.
Djokovic’s a centesimal singles title got here practically 19 years after his first 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 is actually inspiring the way you current your self on the court docket, off the court docket. It is simply actually unbelievable what you might have achieved,” Hurkacz stated to Djokovic within the on-court trophy displays.
Djokovic collected his trophy in entrance of three golden balloons — 1-0-0 — tethered to the court docket.
Because the Paris Olympics, he had misplaced finals on the Shanghai Masters to Jannik Sinner final 12 months and on the Miami Masters to Jakub Mensik in March.
Djokovic acquired far more than the match follow he got here to Geneva for. He had fast exits in April from the earlier tournaments he had entered within the European clay-court season, at Monte Carlo and Madrid.
He additionally acquired to spend time along with his prolonged household within the Swiss lakeside metropolis the place he has an aunt, uncle and cousins. His spouse and youngsters joined him in Geneva to have a good time his birthday, with Djokovic quipping that the children had reduce a day of faculty.
Djokovic had break-point probabilities early within the first two units however didn’t take them. At 2-2 within the first set, Hurkacz saved the second of back-to-back probabilities with a strong 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 web. Within the tiebreaker, Djokovic dominated to power the decider.
Hurkacz instantly broke serve once more to steer the third set. He acquired the prospect when a low bouncing ball dived underneath Djokovic’s racket and took it when the second-seeded Serb despatched a forehand lengthy.