Geneva – Novak Djokovic finally beat Hubert Hurkacz through a rally to beat Hubert Hurkacz 5-7, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2) to become the Geneva Open champion on Saturday.
Djokovic has lost his first two finals since winning his 99th title at Roland-Garros’ Paris Olympics nine months ago.
The 100th game was two days after his 38th birthday, two days after his family in the Swiss city, and the 100th game was a tough and hard game.
“I’m just grateful for the 100 shots here,” Djokovic said in an interview in court. “I have to work hard on it, that’s for sure.”
Djokovic, along with the great tennis Jimmy Connors, has 109 titles, and Roger Federer became the only man to have a century tournament in the open era with a 103.
The three-time French Open champion returned to Paris, hoping to join his 24 Grand Slam singles champions. He played the first round of the French Open with Mackenzie McDonald on Monday.
The Serbs bent down in the middle ace and broke Hurkacz’s serve for the first time in the decision game to win the victory. Djokovic won the chance to make the breakthrough with the forward hand of Hurkacz’s thinly sliced Half-Volley.
“Hubert may be closer to winning than me,” Djokovic said. “I don’t know how I broke him.”
He was the first person in the Open era to win a championship in 20 different seasons.
Djokovic’s 100th singles championship came in the first match in July 2006 for nearly 19 years. It’s also Clay in Amersfoort, Netherlands, against Nicolás Massú – the Chilean is now coach Hurkacz.
Djokovic lost to Jannik Sinner in the Shanghai Masters last year since the Paris Olympics, and the Miami Masters entered Jakob Mensik in March.
