Federer's classy act for Djokovic after milestone as Aussie teenager makes history
Roger Federer has shown his enduring class after taking to social media to congratulate Novak Djokovic on joining him in one of the most exclusive clubs in tennis, having captured a milestone 100th career singles title. It came on the same day that 19-year-old Aussie Maya Joint also celebrated her own slice of history after winning the first WTA title of her career in Morocco.
Djokovic had been stuck on 99 career wins for nine months since winning gold at the Paris Olympics and had lost two previous finals in the period since. But the 24-time major winner finally got the monkey off his back by rallying to beat Hubert Hurkacz 5-7 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-2) in more than three hours to become the Geneva Open champion.
The momentous victory saw Djokovic become just the third man in tennis history to win 100 career titles, seeing him join fellow legends Jimmy Connors (109 titles) and Federer (103) as the only men with a century of tournament wins in the Open era. The Serb sealed the milestone with an ace down the middle after breaking Hurkacz's serve for the first time while trailing 4-3 in the deciding set.
The 38-year-old took that break-point chance with a forehand cross-court winner after being forced to the net by Hurkacz's sliced half-volley. Djokovic is now the first man in the Open era to win a title in 20 different seasons, with his 100th singles title coming nearly 19 years after his first in 2006.
HISTORY. AGAIN. 💯@DjokerNole wins his 100th ATP title in Geneva!!#GonetGenevaOpen pic.twitter.com/so4NW0aKLc
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 24, 2025
Federer was quick to congratulate Djokovic on his historic feat on social media after writing: "Congrats Novak, welcome to the 100 club." And the Serb shot back a cheeky reply to his fellow tennis legend , saying: "Next stop, 103," in reference to Federer's own record.
"I'm just grateful to clinch the 100 here," Djokovic said in an on-court interview, with his family watching on in the Swiss city where some of his relatives reside. "I had to work for it, that is for sure." The three-time French Open champion will now head to Roland Garros with renewed confidence as he looks to win an unprecedented 25th major title. Djokovic faces American Mackenzie McDonald in his first-round match.
Roger Federer congratulates Novak Djokovic on winning his 100th title 👀 pic.twitter.com/gIbeske0Q9
— TENNISCentel (@TennisCentel) May 24, 2025
1st 🏆👦🏻 100th 🏆🧔🏻 pic.twitter.com/IlK6ydWMkM
— Danny 🐊 (@DjokovicFan_) May 24, 2025
TITLE #10038 year old Novak Djokovic becomes just the 3rd ever player to win 100 Men's Singles titles after beating Hubi Hurkacz 5-7, 7-6(2), 7-6(2) to win Geneva.His first title since the Olympic Games. Arrives #RolandGarros with muchhh more confidence. pic.twitter.com/qp9zzNnZcV
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 24, 2025
Teenage Aussie sensation Joint also celebrated history after beating Romanian Jaqueline Cristian 6-3 6-2 in the Morocco Open final in Rabat to claim the first WTA title of her burgeoning career. The 19-year-old Aussie collapsed to the clay in joy after Cristian's shot sailed long to hand Joint her second trophy in two days, after she also won the doubles crown in Rabat.
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"Must be something about Morocco," she beamed afterwards on court. "It's been a an amazing week. The conditions really tested both of us - this crowd was unbelievable." The stunning victory is set to see Joint climb to World No.53 ahead of the French Open, continuing a meteoric rise that saw her ranked World No.684 at the start of last year.
Joint is the US-born daughter of a Sydney dad who is now based in Brisbane, and she'll be hoping to use the maiden WTA title triumph as a launchpad for her grand slam campaign at Roland Garros. Joint's first-round opponent at the French Open will be fellow Aussie Ajla Tomljanovic, who she beat in the semi-final to reach the Moroccan decider when Tomljanovic retired with illness after losing the first set.
with AAP
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