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 develop 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 centesimal was after a sometimes 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 kin 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 file 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 trying so as to add to his 24 Grand Slam singles titles. Djokovic has a French Open first-round match Monday towards Mackenzie McDonald of the USA.
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 likelihood 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 all the match than I used to be,” Djokovic mentioned. “I do not know the way 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 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 courtroom, off the courtroom. It is simply actually unbelievable what you’ve got achieved,” Hurkacz mentioned to Djokovic within the on-court trophy displays.
Djokovic collected his trophy in entrance of three golden balloons — 1-0-0 — tethered to the courtroom.
Because the 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 way 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 together 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 reduce 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 together with his solely break-point likelihood when Djokovic double-faulted.
Within the opening sport of the second set, Hurkacz saved Djokovic’s subsequent likelihood with an overhead winner on the web. Within the tiebreaker, Djokovic dominated to pressure the decider.
Hurkacz instantly broke serve once more to steer the third set. He acquired the possibility when a low bouncing ball dived below Djokovic’s racket and took it when the second-seeded Serb despatched a forehand lengthy.