Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns a ball to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz during their men’s singles final … More
Novak Djokovic has joined another elite club.
The 38-year-old Serb became the third man to the 100-title club, beating Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, 5-7, 7-6(2), 7-6(2), in the Geneva Open final, an ATP 250 event. Hurkacz banged out 19 aces to Djokovic’s 6, but his forehand failed him late in the match.
Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam winner, joined fellow legends Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) with 100 career titles. He closed the match out with an ace in the third-set tiebreak for his first title of 2025.
“I want to thank my wife and my family,” Djokovic, who turned 38 this week, said on court. “I want to thank my kids for coming for three days only on this school break, cutting the school for one day just to be with me….My team, only thing I can say is thank you not only for being with me in the good times but also in the bad times.”
Djokovic’s first title came in 2006 at Amersfoort and his 50th came at Indian Wells in 2015.
Djokovic will now try to win his 101st career title and record 25th major at Roland Garros, which begins Sunday on TNT.
Unfortunately for him, he faces a brutal draw in which he could potentially have to beat No. 11 Daniil Medvedev, No. 3 Alexander Zverev, No. 1 Jannik Sinner and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in order from the fourth round on to win the crown.
“It’s a good sign he’s he’s taken a wildcard into Geneva this week, and he’s looking to get some matches there to build a little momentum into RG,” two-time French Open champion Jim Courier said before Geneva.
“You write him off at your run of risk.”
Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz returns a ball to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during their men’s singles final … More
Hurkacz had been 12-0 this year when winning the first set.
Djokovic double-faulted to lose the opening set, but then fought back to win the second in a tiebreak.
In the decisive third set, Djokovic double-faulted twice in the opening game en route to being broken. Hurkacz held serve for 2-0.
But Djokovic broke back for 4-all with a running forehand winner. He held his racket up and shook it as the crowd applauded.
In the tiebreak, Hurkacz’s forehand faltered and he made three errors to fall behind 5-2.
Djokovic closed it out with an ace.
“It’s really incredible [what] you have achieved,” Hurkacz said on court.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamzagoria/2025/05/24/novak-djokovic-becomes-3rd-man-with-100-career-titles/