Djokovic within two wins of 100th title as he turns 38
Tennis - Geneva Open - Tennis Club de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - May 22, 2025 Fans display a banner in the stands wishing Serbia's Novak Djokovic a happy birthday during his quarter final match against Italy's Matteo Arnaldi REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
Tennis - Geneva Open - Tennis Club de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - May 22, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action during his quarter final match against Italy's Matteo Arnaldi REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
Tennis - Geneva Open - Tennis Club de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - May 22, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic smashes his racket during his quarter final match against Italy's Matteo Arnaldi REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
Tennis - Geneva Open - Tennis Club de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - May 22, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic is presented with a birthday cake after winning his quarter final match against Italy's Matteo Arnaldi REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
Djokovic within two wins of 100th title as he turns 38
Novak Djokovic marked his 38th birthday in style on Thursday, defeating Matteo Arnaldi 6-4 6-4 to reach the Geneva Open semi-finals and continue his pursuit of a 100th career title.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion avenged last month's Madrid Open loss to the Italian and will next face Britain's Cameron Norrie, who rallied to defeat Australian Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (8-6) 6-4.
"It's great to be in the semi-finals again. Hopefully this year I can go at least a step further, that's the goal," said Djokovic, who lost to Tomas Machac in last year's quarter-finals.
"I think I'm playing really good tennis. A straight-sets win, but it was much closer than the score indicates."
After taking the first set, Djokovic trailed 4-1 in the second but stormed back with five consecutive games to seal the win in one hour and 40 minutes.
The former world No. 1 admitted that smashing his racket in frustration helped him reset mentally and close out the match in straight sets.
"After the racquet breaking I kind of found my optimal state and balance mentally and emotionally to be able to play my best tennis when it was most needed," Djokovic, who was presented with a birthday cake on court, said.
Djokovic is bidding to become only the third man in history to win 100 ATP titles, after Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103). REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Czech Lehecka opens grass campaign with win in Stuttgart
FILE PHOTO: May 31, 2025; Paris, FR; Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic celebrates winning a game during his match against Jannik Sinner of Italy on day seven at Roland Garros Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images/File Photo REUTERS Czech Lehecka opens grass campaign with win in Stuttgart Rising Czech force Jiri Lehecka began his Wimbledon build-up in impressive fashion with a 6-4 6-4 defeat of Benjamin Bonzi in the opening round of the Stuttgart Open on Monday. The eighth seed, whose last match on grass was in the Wimbledon fourth round in 2023, quickly got up to speed to overpower Bonzi, firing down 13 aces. Lehecka, 23, will face 2023 Stuttgart runner-up Jan-Lennard Struff next after he thumped down 30 aces during a 6-4 6-4 victory over Italy's Matteo Arnaldi, his first win against a top-50 opponent this season. American sixth seed Brandon Nakashima came through a battle against Britain's Jacob Fearnley, winning 4-6 7-6(4) 6-1. Top seed at the ATP 250 event is Alexander Zverev. Action also began at the Libema Open in Den Bosch with two-time runner-up Jordan Thompson beginning another run with a 6-4 6-4 defeat of American Aleksandar Kovacevic. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New Paper
3 hours ago
- New Paper
French Oaks under Italy-US raid
With horse racing becoming increasingly a big global village, Zia Agnese adds yet another international flavour to the €1,000,000 (S$1.47 million) Group 1 Prix de Diane (2,100m) at Chantilly this Sunday on June 15. The name of this daughter of Irish stallion Romanised is distinctively Italian, but she also has strong links from the other side of the Atlantic. Meaning "Auntie Agnes" in Italian, Zia Agnese pays tribute to one of the co-owners' aunt. Gina d'Amato is a Florida world-renowned oncologist who owns and breeds horses in both the US and France. She was passed down the racing bug from her father John, a long-time horse owner. John's sister is the aunt affectionately named "Zia Agnese" in the family. D'Amato shares the three-year-old filly with Italian-born Richard Marini, who is now a landscape entrepreneur based in Florida. Unsurprisingly, the duo have entrusted their pride and joy in the hands of an Italian trainer, Gianluca Bietolini, who moved from Rome to Maisons-Laffitte in Paris in 2013. The only true French connection comes through the reins - homegrown jockey Ronan Thomas. Bietolini may not have Group 1 silverware bursting from his trophy cabinet, but his best horse Grand Glory has put his name up in lights, including winning the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet (2,000m) in 2021. The daughter of Olympic Glory also ran third to Channel in the 2019 Prix de Diane, an effort the former amateur jockey is hoping to better with Zia Agnese. "She had already done a solid piece of work at the Maisons-Laffitte racecourse on May 24," said Bietolini to France Galop after Zia Agnese's final workout on June 4. "This time, she went over 1,800 metres with a pacemaker and another horse accompanying her in the home straight. "I'm very pleased with what I saw and, more importantly, her jockey Ronan Thomas was genuinely happy with her as well. "Now all we have to do is keep her in the same condition until the big day and hope for a bit of luck in the race." Referred to as the French Oaks, the 182-year-old Prix de Diane is the most prestigious French race for three-year-old fillies. Thomas became instrumental to the filly turning the corner when he got the call-up deep into her first prep. It was only after her first placed run in four starts when second in a Maiden (1,900m) at Chantilly on Oct 1, 2024 that Thomas was booked by Bietolini. The pair clicked immediately, with Zia Agnese shedding her maiden tag in a 1,900m race at Deauville on Nov 3, followed weeks later by another one in a Stakes race over the same trip at Chantilly on Dec 20. Upon resumption after a three-month layoff, Zia Agnese ran last in a small field of five in the Tourbillon Stakes (2,100m) at Saint-Cloud, but less than three lengths off the winner, the unbeaten Marchon. She had excuses as the ground was soft and she also cast a shoe. But the pair bounced straight back to the winner's enclosure at their next assignment, which came in one of the key prep races for the Prix de Diane, the Group 3 Prix Cleopatre (2,100m) at Saint-Cloud on April 18. No doubt, the Prix de Diane will be a sterner test, but Thomas, 47, who won last year's Prix du Jockey Club with the Carlos and Yann Lerner-trained Look De Vega, is an experienced pair of hands. One of the rivals to draw plenty of intrigue will be the Charlie Fellowes-trained Shes Perfect, controversially demoted from first place in the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1,600m) or the French Guineas at ParisLongchamp on May 11. The win was awarded to the favourite Zarigana in the stewards' room, on the grounds of interference when Shes Perfect indirectly bumped her off when she could not stay on a straight line inside the concluding stages. manyan@
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Inter appoint former player Chivu as manager
Inter Milan appointed Cristian Chivu as coach on Monday in place of Simone Inzaghi who left following the Italian side's 5-0 Champions League final loss to Paris St Germain, with their former player signing a two-year deal. Romanian Chivu, who left Parma after less than four months in charge, played as a defender for Inter for seven years and was part of Jose Mourinho's treble-winning side in 2010 before ending his playing career at the Serie A club in 2014. "In February 2025, Cristian was given his first opportunity to coach a senior side at Parma... He led the Emilians to safety, with the team picking up 16 points from 13 matches under his guidance," Inter said in a statement. "Now, Cristian Chivu is beginning the third chapter of his Nerazzurri story. And he's doing so with the values that have always guided him: dedication, sacrifice and a tireless work ethic." Chivu's second Inter chapter started in 2018 when he returned, moving up through the ranks to manage the youth team and winning the league title in his first season in charge. Although Chivu lacks the experience that Inzaghi brought to the role, the 44-year-old made an immediate impact at Parma by shoring up a defence which had been leaking goals, with his side conceding only 13 compared to 27 in the previous 13 games. Parma performed better against the bigger sides under Chivu, beating Juventus, Bologna and Atalanta while earning draws against Inter, Lazio and Napoli. Chivu's Parma also did Inter a huge favour on the penultimate matchday with a 0-0 draw against Napoli, but Inzaghi's side failed to take advantage, conceding a late penalty in a 2-2 draw with Lazio, and Napoli went on to become champions. Inzaghi, who led Inter to the Scudetto in the previous campaign, ended last season trophyless, losing to neighbours AC Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-final, and the campaign ended with the humiliating loss to PSG in Munich. Three days after that defeat, Inzaghi left Inter after four years at the helm, and joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal the next day. Chivu's first challenge is the Club World Cup where Inter begin the tournament on June 17 when they take on Mexico's Monterrey in Los Angeles followed by two games in Seattle against Urawa Red Diamonds and River Plate. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
