GENEVA — Novak Djokovic lastly clinched his a hundredth 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 into 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 hundredth was after a usually powerful 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 kinfolk reside.
“I am simply grateful to clinch the 100 right here,” Djokovic mentioned in an on-court interview. “I needed to work for it, that’s for positive.”
Djokovic joins tennis greats Jimmy Connors, who has a report 109 titles, and Roger Federer on 103 as the one males within the Open period with a century of match wins.
The three-time French Open champion heads again to Paris trying so as to add to his 24 Grand Slam singles titles. He has a French Open first-round match Monday towards Mackenzie McDonald of america.
The Serb clinched 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 online on Hurkacz’s sliced half-volley.
“Hubert was in all probability nearer to the victory your entire match than I used to be,” Djokovic mentioned. “I do not know the way I broke his serve.”
He’s the primary man within the Open period to win a title in 20 seasons.
Djokovic’s a hundredth singles title got here almost 19 years after his first in July 2006. That additionally was on clay, at Amersfoort within the Netherlands, towards 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 mentioned to the winner within the on-court trophy shows.
Djokovic collected his trophy in entrance of three golden balloons — 1-0-0 — tethered to the court docket.
For the reason that Paris Olympics, he had misplaced finals on the Shanghai Masters to Jannik Sinner final yr 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 fun his birthday, with Djokovic quipping that the children had lower a day of college.
Djokovic had break-point possibilities 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 possibilities with a robust service winner.
Hurkacz clinched the primary set along with his solely break-point probability when Djokovic double-faulted.
Within the opening sport 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 possibility when a low bouncing ball dived beneath Djokovic’s racket, and took it when the second-seeded Serb despatched a forehand lengthy.
