Latest news with #ATP100
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Confident' Djokovic kicks off Slam record attempt at French Open
Novak Djokovic brought up a century of ATP titles with his win in Geneva on Saturday (VALENTIN FLAURAUD) Novak Djokovic sets out on his latest pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title at the French Open on Tuesday, as women's contenders Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva get their campaigns under way. The 38-year-old Djokovic starts off against 98th-ranked American Mackenzie McDonald, three days after becoming only the third man to win 100 ATP titles with his victory in Geneva. Advertisement "Obviously winning 100th title, that is a nice milestone, of course, definitely much needed for my game and confidence level coming into Roland Garros," said Djokovic. "I needed to win matches, and particularly on this surface. "I'm the type of player that needs to get some matches under his belt before the big tournaments." Three-time Roland Garros champion Djokovic is on the same half of the draw as world number one Jannik Sinner and last year's runner-up Alexander Zverev. Seeded sixth, Djokovic returns to Paris for the first time since beating Carlos Alcaraz to capture a much coveted Olympic gold medal last August. Advertisement "After the Geneva title, I feel more confident. I feel more positive about my level," said Djokovic. "I feel better, I still have a lot of ambitions, I still have high objectives." World number three Zverev hopes to go a step further than 12 months ago when he lost the final to Carlos Alcaraz in five sets, his third defeat in as many Grand Slam finals. His preparation has been far from ideal. As a last-minute entry in Hamburg, he lost in the round of 16 and blamed illness for a lacklustre display. He then revealed his journey to Paris was delayed after his plane, which was also carrying other tennis players, got struck by lightning, which forced it turn around and do an emergency landing. Advertisement Zverev takes on US teenager Learner Tien, who beat the German in straight sets in Acapulco in February. Fifth seed Jack Draper, who won at Indian Wells and reached the Madrid final, takes on Mattia Bellucci in round one, while 11th seed Daniil Medvedev meets Cameron Norrie. Alex de Minaur, a quarter-finalist at each of the past four majors, squares off against Laslo Djere. Czech teenager and Miami champion Jakub Mensik faces home hope Alexandre Muller. - Gauff, Andreeva ones to watch - In the women's draw, 2022 runner-up Gauff plays Australia's Olivia Gadecki, who has just one Grand Slam main draw match win to her credit. Advertisement Gauff, the 2023 US Open winner, has not won a tournament since last year's WTA Finals but reached the finals at both Madrid and Rome this month. "It definitely gives me a lot of confidence, but I think I'm just putting those results in the past and focusing on the next two weeks here," said Gauff. The 21-year-old American has reached the quarter-finals or better in each of her past four visits to Roland Garros. Rising Russian star Andreeva is eyeing her maiden Grand Slam crown after WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells. She also won silver in doubles at last year's Olympics, two months after a sparkling run to the last four at Roland Garros before falling to eventual runner-up Jasmine Paolini. Advertisement Andreeva faces Spanish world number 98 Cristina Bucsa in the first round. "I'm super excited to be back. The practices and everything is going good so far. I just can't wait to start the tournament," said sixth-seeded Andreeva. Ons Jabeur, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, is also in action. The Tunisian is unseeded after battling injury and meets Poland's Magdalena French. There is also a clash of mothers as two-time former Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka plays Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer, a surprise 2009 US Open semi-finalist who will retire after Wimbledon. mw/jc
Malay Mail
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Novak Djokovic becomes third man to win 100 ATP titles with Geneva victory
GENEVA, May 25 — Novak Djokovic became just the third man to win 100 ATP titles with a typically dramatic comeback victory over Hubert Hurkacz in the final of the Geneva Open on Saturday. The 38-year-old, playing in Switzerland in a bid to find form ahead of the French Open, recovered from losing the first set to clinch a 5-7, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/2) win after three hours and five minutes on court. Djokovic joins Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer as the only players with a century of tour titles. 'I had to work for it, that's for sure. He was probably closer to the victory the entire match than me,' said Djokovic, who is the first man to win titles in 20 consecutive years. 'I was just trying to hang in there... this is what happens at this level. A few points decide it, an incredible match... and I'm delighted to clinch the 100 here.' It was the former world number one's first tournament triumph since clinching his maiden Olympic gold medal against Carlos Alcaraz at the Paris Games last summer. Djokovic had lost both of his previous matches on clay this season prior to the Geneva tournament, against Alejandro Tabilo and Matteo Arnaldi at the Monte Carlo and Madrid Masters respectively. But he decided to play at the low-key clay-court event in a bid to find form ahead of the start of the year's second Grand Slam event on Sunday at Roland Garros, where the Serb will be targeting a record-breaking 25th major singles trophy. It was Djokovic's first tournament since splitting from coach and old rival Andy Murray, but he showed no ill-effects. Poland's former world number six Hurkacz, now ranked 31st, is still waiting for his first title since April 2024. 'It's really inspiring how you conduct yourself on and off the court,' Hurkacz said to Djokovic. The three-time Roland Garros champion starts his French Open campaign against American Mackenzie McDonald on either Monday or Tuesday. Hurkacz's strong start After a tight start, Djokovic saw two break points come and go in the fifth game as Hurkacz battled to keep the first set on serve. The opener appeared to be meandering towards a tie-break until Djokovic cracked in game 12, following a loose forehand at deuce with a double-fault on set point to give Hurkacz a one-set advantage. Hurkacz dug deep to secure a hard-fought hold to kick off the second set, staving off another break point. The second set followed a similar pattern to the first, but this time Djokovic was able to hold at 6-5 down to force a tie-break with an ace. The Serb found his groove in the breaker, reeling off four straight points to send the match into a deciding set. But Djokovic immediately gave up his serve in the first game of the third set, serving a double-fault when 40-30 up and then blasting a backhand long on break point. Hurkacz then reeled off three successive holds to love to edge towards the title, only to crumble in the eighth game of the decider with two unforced errors and a double-fault to gift Djokovic a way back into the final. The Pole gathered himself to secure a deciding tie-break in a tense 12th game. But he crumbled at the crucial moments with back-to-back errors from 3-2 behind in the breaker, leaving Djokovic to reach yet another milestone in his illustrious career with an ace. — AFP
The Independent
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Novak Djokovic makes history to finally claim 100th title
Novak Djokovic finally claimed his 100th ATP Tour -level singles title with 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. The Serbian is just the third man in the Open era – after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer – to win 100 ATP titles. Djokovic, who turned 38 on Thursday, had not won a title since claiming Olympic gold in Paris last summer and had suffered immediate exits from previous clay-court events in Madrid and Monte Carlo. 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.'
CNA
24-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Djokovic beats Hurkacz to win 100th title at Geneva Open
GENEVA, Switzerland :Novak Djokovic battled from a set down to clinch his 100th tour-level title by beating Polish sixth seed Hubert Hurkacz 5-7 7-6(2) 7-6(2) at the Geneva Open on Saturday. The Serbian, who turned 38 on Thursday, becomes just the third man in the Open Era to win 100 ATP titles after American Jimmy Connors and Swiss Roger Federer. Djokovic's last title came when he won gold at the Paris Olympics last year. The latest triumph comes at the perfect time as the record 24-times Grand Slam champion bids for a fourth crown at the French Open, which starts on Sunday.
Reuters
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Djokovic beats Hurkacz to win 100th title at Geneva Open
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 24 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic battled from a set down to clinch his 100th tour-level title by beating Polish sixth seed Hubert Hurkacz 5-7 7-6(2) 7-6(2) at the Geneva Open on Saturday. The Serbian, who turned 38 on Thursday, becomes just the third man in the Open Era to win 100 ATP titles after American Jimmy Connors and Swiss Roger Federer. Djokovic's last title came when he won gold at the Paris Olympics last year. The latest triumph comes at the perfect time as the record 24-times Grand Slam champion bids for a fourth crown at the French Open, which starts on Sunday.
