Novak Djokovic becomes only the third man to reach ridiculous tennis milestone
Novak Djokovic celebrated turning 38 on Thursday and had not won a title since claiming Olympic gold last summer, but claimed his 100th ATP Tour-level singles title in Geneva
Novak Djokovic celebrated turning 38 on Thursday two days late - by claiming his 100th ATP Tour level singles title. The Serbian landed a hard-fought victory over Poland's Hubert Hurkacz in the final of the Geneva Open.
Djokovic fought back from losing the first set and being a break down in the decider to beat Hurkacz 5-7 7-6 (2) 7-6 (2) in a gruelling contest lasting three hours and four minutes. It means that Djokovic is just the third man in the Open era – after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer – to win 100 ATP titles.
It comes after Djokovic had failed to win a title since claiming Olympic gold in Paris last summer, having suffered immediate exits from previous clay court events in Madrid and Monte Carlo.
And another painful defeat looked on the cards when he served two double faults to lose his serve in the opening game of the final set, but Hurkacz played an error-strewn eighth game to allow Djokovic to level at 4-4.
More costly errors from the big-serving Pole then allowed Djokovic to ease through the tie-break and complete the perfect preparation for his bid to win a record-breaking 25th grand slam title in the French Open.
'I had to work for it, that's for sure,' a relieved Djokovic said in an on-court interview before the ball boys and girls physically formed the number 100 in tribute at the presentation ceremony.
'Huby was probably closer to the victory the entire match than I was. I had some chances to break his serve in the first set, I didn't do it and then had a bad game that ended up with a double fault on set point.
'All of a sudden the match went to his side in a sense and I was obviously just trying to hang in there.
'I don't know how I broke his serve, he probably broke himself in the third when he was 4-3 up but this is what happens on this level, the highest level, a few points decide the winner.
'An incredible match, 7-6 in the third with a full stadium, beautiful atmosphere. So I'm just grateful to clinch the 100th here.'
Djokovic's win came after he saw off Brit Cameron Norrie in the semi-final. He will face American Mackenzie McDonald in the first round at Roland Garros, which starts on Sunday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Carlos Alcaraz saves three match points to beat Sinner in epic French Open final
As he faced up to the excruciating reality of trailing three championship points against the best player in the world, Carlos Alcaraz started his service preparation from the Court Philippe-Chatrier baseline with a deep, long breath. For most other players in the history of tennis, there was no reason to believe in any outcome other than defeat. In his short time competing in the biggest matches of his sport, however, Alcaraz has made it clear that he is different to anyone who has ever come before him, both in the way he approaches his tennis and the unwavering belief that underpins his success. From the depths of hell, Alcaraz recovered and pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the sport in an otherworldly confrontation, spectacularly toppling the world No 1 Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) after five hours and 29 minutes to defend his French Open title in Paris. Even before this moment, the greatest in his career so far, Alcaraz has built a reputation for maintaining his self-belief even when facing desperate deficits. He had already saved a significant match point against Sinner, pulling off an unforgettable recovery at 3am in their 2022 US Open quarter-final match en route to his first major title. His five-set escape against Novak Djokovic in the 2023 Wimbledon final was an instant classic. None of that compares to the madness that unfolded here in the final match of the tournament. Still just 22, Alcaraz is the third-youngest man in history to win five grand slam titles, following in the footsteps of Björn Borg and Rafael Nadal. As the eighth man in the open era to successfully defend a Roland Garros title, he completes an incredible clay-court season where he has compiled a 19-0 record at big tournaments, winning Masters 1000 titles in Monte Carlo, Rome before this phenomenal victory in Paris. It only took the longest French Open final in the open era for him to achieve this. After years of hype and expectation surrounding the rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner, this occasion signified their long-awaited first grand slam final as they have established themselves as the two leading players in the sport. At the beginning of a new era in men's tennis, they have set the bar in the stratosphere. Before the final, Sinner had been the best performer in the draw, rolling through all opponents to reach the semi-finals before overcoming the 24-time grand slam winner Novak Djokovic in three bruising sets. He was 47-2 against players since August, but Alcaraz was responsible for those two defeats. Despite how hard Alcaraz tried, he could not halt Sinner's momentum as the Italian established a two-set lead. Still, he kept on going. Throughout the third set, he repeatedly called on the crowd to carry him through. He retrieved the break and rolled to a 5-2 lead, his level rising and his mind clearing. As he closed out the set with a break for 6-4 to keep his hopes alive, Alcaraz cupped his ears to the crowd and let their adoration wash over him. Sinner quickly reestablished control in the fourth set, marching to a 5-3 lead and reaching triple championship point on Alcaraz's serve. One point from the end of his reign at Roland Garros, with seemingly the entire audience urging him on, the moment drew the Spaniard's unwavering focus. He played every single shot with discipline and care, methodically eradicating the match points before slamming the door shut with a searing forehand winner. Then he met the moment with a supreme return game as Sinner's first serve and legs faltered. In the blink of an eye, Alcaraz had swung the match from 3-5, 0-40, to 6-5. As Alcaraz walked back to his chair at the change of ends, he pumped his fists to the sky. Despite Sinner pulling himself together to force a tie-break, Alcaraz refused to allow his opponent to regain any momentum. His strong serving set the tone early and he unleashed his forehand whenever the opportunity presented it. As the tie-break endured and the frenzied crowd spurred Alcaraz on, Sinner gradually lost both his head and his legs as Alcaraz forced a fifth set. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion In just his second tournament back after his three month-doping ban, Sinner's physical condition was always uncertain. By the start of the final set, he had faded physically and he immediately lost his serve. But he kept on going. Sinner made Alcaraz work for every service game and as Alcaraz stepped up to serve for the match himself, Sinner spectacularly broke back for 5-5. With everything on the line after well over five hours on court, both men spent the final stages swinging as freely as they could, leaving nothing to doubt. Up 6-5 in the fifth, Sinner placed Alcaraz under relentless pressure in a lengthy deuce game, again moving to within two points of victory. But Alcaraz weathered the storm yet again, finding a backhand passing-shot winner to hold serve before marching through the championship tie-break to an astounding victory that further bolsters his status as one of the most special young talents this sport has ever seen.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
French Open men's singles champion Alcaraz
PARIS, June 8 (Reuters) - Factbox on Spanish second seed Carlos Alcaraz, who beat Italian world number one Jannik Sinner 4-6 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(10-2) in the French Open final on Sunday to win his fifth Grand Slam title. Age: 22 Country: Spain ATP ranking: 2 Seeding: 2 Grand Slam titles: 5 (French Open 2024, 2025; Wimbledon 2023, 2024; U.S. Open 2022) EARLY LIFE * Born in El Palmar, Alcaraz started playing tennis aged four at the Real Sociedad Club de Campo de Murcia, where his father was the academy director. * Made his ATP main-draw debut aged 16 at the 2020 Rio Open. * Became the first teenager to beat compatriot Rafa Nadal and Serbian Novak Djokovic in the same tournament — and on consecutive days — to win his second ATP Masters 1000 title at the 2022 Madrid Open. * Outclassed Norwegian Casper Ruud to clinch his first major title at the 2022 U.S. Open, becoming the youngest champion at Flushing Meadows since American Pete Sampras (19) in 1990. * That year, at 19 years, four months and six days, he became the youngest world number one in ATP rankings history. * Went on to win nine titles as a teenager, behind only Bjorn Borg, Nadal, Mats Wilander, Boris Becker and Andre Agassi. * Defeated Djokovic to win Wimbledon in 2023, becoming the first man outside the 'Big Four' of Djokovic, Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray to claim the title at the All England Club since 2002. * Beat German Alexander Zverev in the 2024 French Open final to become the youngest man, at 21, to win Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces — hard, grass and clay. * Beat Djokovic in the 2024 Wimbledon showpiece, taking his Grand Slam final win-loss record to 4-0, becoming the sixth man in the professional era to win the French Open-Wimbledon double in the same year after Rod Laver, Borg, Nadal, Federer and Djokovic. * Won a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics after losing to Djokovic in the final. * Became the third man to retain the French Open title this century, after Nadal and Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten, when he beat three-times major winner Sinner in the 2025 final.
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz – French Open final LIVE SCORES: World No1 closes in on huge win as he leads by two sets
Sinner 6-4 6-5 Alcaraz* Alcaraz again makes the perfect start to the game by claiming the first point and immediately ramping up the pressure on Sinner, who is as usual stone-cold stoic on the outside. A Sinner forehand at 0-15 just about clips a tiny bit of the line - I don't think I am the only one who thought that was drifting wide. Wonderful, wonderful tennis. Sinner gets to 40-15 in style with a rally that has a bit of everything, including a cracking drop shot and smart cheeky finish. Ace. Hold. A bit of emotion as he tosses the spare ball away and marches to his chair.
