Novak Djokovic Celebrates 37th Birthday with Victory at Geneva Open
Djokovic Defeats Hanfmann to Reach Quarter-Finals
On his 37th birthday, Novak Djokovic secured a win against Germany's Yannick Hanfmann in a rain-interrupted match, moving into the quarter-finals of the Geneva Open. This ATP 250 tournament in Switzerland marks Djokovic's first participation as part of his preparation for the French Open. The 24-time Grand Slam champion recorded a decisive 6-3, 6-3 victory.
Historic Milestone: 1,100 Match Wins
With this win, Djokovic became only the third player in ATP history, following Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer, to achieve 1,100 match wins. This milestone adds to his illustrious career and underscores his status as one of the greatest players in tennis history.
Birthday Celebrations
Following his victory, the Geneva Open crowd celebrated Djokovic's birthday by singing "happy birthday" to him. Tournament officials also presented him with a chocolate birthday cake. "My birthday wouldn't have been the same if I had not won the match," Djokovic remarked. "I'm very grateful for all the people that came out to support me and thank you for the birthday song, that was very special for me."
Next Challenge: Shapovalov or Griekspoor
The world number one, who has yet to reach a final in 2024, will face either Canada's Denis Shapovalov or Dutch sixth seed Tallon Griekspoor in the quarter-finals. This match will be crucial as Djokovic continues to build momentum ahead of the French Open.
Match Recap: Djokovic vs. Hanfmann
In the opening round, Hanfmann had defeated Britain's Andy Murray 7-5, 6-2, marking Murray's return to ATP Tour-level competition since rupturing his ankle ligaments at the Miami Open in March. However, Hanfmann faced a formidable challenge against Djokovic.
The German, ranked 85th in the world, had his serve broken by Djokovic in the sixth game of the first set and failed to capitalize on two break-point opportunities soon after. Serving for the set at 5-3, Djokovic saved four break points before a rain delay paused the match for over an hour. Upon resumption, Djokovic swiftly sealed the set.
Hanfmann made a strong start in the second set, breaking Djokovic's serve and leading 3-0. However, Djokovic regained control, breaking back and winning six consecutive games to secure the match.
Recent Performance and French Open Outlook
Earlier this month, Djokovic suffered a surprising 6-2, 6-3 defeat to Alejandro Tabilo in the Italian Open's third round, which he attributed to lingering effects from an accidental head injury. Despite this setback, Djokovic is focused on defending his French Open title, aiming for his fourth win at Roland Garros when the tournament begins on Sunday.
