Geneva – Novak Djokovic finally won his 100th career single title on Saturday by winning the rally to become Geneva’s open champion, beating Hubert Halkach 5-7, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2) in more than three hours.
Djokovic has lost two finals since his 99th title won the Parisio Games at Roland Garros nine months ago.
The 100th was surrounded by his family in the city of Switzerland, where some of his relatives live, after a typically tough, hardworking match two days after his 38th birthday.
“I’m grateful to clinch 100 here,” Djokovic said in an on-court interview. “I had to work for it, that’s certainly true.”
Djokovic joins tennis great Jimmy Connors, who has a record 109 titles, and Roger Federer (103) as the only man in the era opened with the tournament’s first century victory.
The three-time French Open Champion returns to Paris, where he is about to add to his 24 Grand Slam single titles. Djokovic is holding the first round of the French Open on Monday against US Mackenzie McDonald.
Serbia completed a surge in victory after smashing Harukacchi’s serve for the first time while clunging the ace in the middle on Saturday to the 4-3 in the deciding set. Djokovic took that breakpoint chance with the forehand crosscourt winner and advanced to the net with a sliced half boree from Halkach.
“Hubert was probably closer to winning the whole game than I did,” Djokovic said. “I don’t know how I broke his serve.”
Djokovic is the first man in his open era to win a title in 20 seasons.
Djokovic’s 100th single title came in July 2006 almost 19 years after its first 19 years. This also appeared in Clay against the Nicolasmass, a Chilean, currently in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, who are now in charge of the Halkachi.
“It’s really exciting how you present yourself away from the courts. What you accomplish is really incredible,” Harukac told Djokovic during his on-court trophy presentation.
Djokovic collected trophies in front of three golden balloons (1-0-0).
Since the Paris Olympics, he lost his final to Janik Sinner at the Masters in Shanghai last year and Jakubu Mensik at the Miami Masters in March.
Djokovic won far more than he practiced the match he came to Geneva. He quickly departed from previous tournaments in April, where he participated in the European clay court season in Monte Carlo and Madrid.
He also managed to spend time with his extended family in Lakeside, Switzerland, where his aunt, uncle and cousin are. His wife and children joined him in Geneva to celebrate his birthday.
Djokovic had chances for breakpoints early in the first two sets, but did not get them. 2-2 in the first set, Hurkacz saved his second consecutive chance with a strong service winner.
Hurkacz closed the first set with his only breakpoint chance when Djokovic double-falls.
In the opening game of the second set, Hurkacz saved Jjokovic’s next chance with an overhead winner on the net. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was dominant to force the decider.
Hurkacz quickly defeated serve again to lead the third set. He got the chance when a low bouncing ball jumped under Djokovic’s racket, and took it when the second-seeded Serb sent a long forehand.
