Novak Djokovic recovered from losing the opening set and being a break down in the third against Hubert Hurkacz to win his 100th ATP title at the Geneva Open.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion battled past the Pole 5-7, 7-6(2), 7-6(2), in a marathon encounter that lasted more than three hours. Djokovic was under pressure throughout the match but managed to come up with a way to turn his fortunes around. Hitting a total of 34 winners against 38 unforced errors and winning 72% of his service points.
Djokovic, who came into Geneva yet to win a match on the clay this season, has become the third man to win 100 or more Tour titles after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer. Furthermore, he is the first player in history to have won at least one ATP event in 20 different seasons. A true testament to the longevity of the 38-year-old Serbian.
“I had to work for it, that’s for sure,” Djokovic said of his latest victory.
“Hubi (Hurkacz) was probably closer to victory the entire match than I was.
“I Had some chances in the first set to break his serve. I didn’t do it. Then I ended up with a double fault on set point.
“All of a sudden the match went to his side in a sense. I was 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 four- three up. But this is what happens at the highest level. Very few points decide the winner. An incredible match.”
Throughout the 53-minute opening set, there was little to separate the two players. Djokovic had a couple of chances to take control of proceedings. At 2-2, the Serbian worked his way to two break points before Hurkacz hit back with the help of some blistering serves to win four points in a row. Then at 5-5, Djokovic had a mini chance when he drew level at 40-40 in a Hurkacz service game but was unable to capitalize.
In the end, it was the Polish sixth seed who came out on top in a somewhat unexpected manner. He worked his way to set point after a forehand from the former world No.1 tapped the net and landed out. Then a Djokovic double fault handed Hurkacz the 7-5 lead.
The cat-and-mouse chase continued into the second set with Djokovic having a break point early on but once again failing to convert. However, he finally managed to get a breakthrough in the tiebreak. Taking advantage of more unforced errors coming from across the court, he secured a mini break four times en route to levelling the match.
Despite his breakthrough, Djokovic faltered once again at the start of the deciding set with a lacklustre service game featuring two double faults to hand Hurkacz another break. However, later in the decider, the same happened but in reverse with the Pole coming undone. Eventually, it would be Djokovic who provided the fewest mistakes when it mattered. Three consecutive Hurkacz forehand errors in the deciding tiebreaker handed him a series of match points. He converted his first with an ace.
“I know it’s tough to have a bitter taste in the mouth, to lose the match like this,” Djokovic said to Hurkacz during the trophy ceremony.
“I’m sorry for that. You were definitely for most of the match a better player. But I want to give you huge credit for playing some amazing tennis this week.”
Hurkacz is currently coached by Nicolas Massu. The person Djokovic beat to win his first ATP title back in 2006 at the Dutch Open.
Focus now switches to the French Open which will get underway on Sunday. Besides Hurkacz, Djokovic also secured wins over Marton Fucsovics, Matteo Arnaldi and Cameron Norrie in Geneva.
Djokovic will begin his Paris campaign against Mackenzie McDonald.
