Geneva Open title the perfect watershed moment for Novak Djokovic ahead of Roland-Garros
The 24-time Grand Slam champion clinched the 100th ATP title of his career in Geneva, yet its significance extends beyond this milestone number
Novak Djokovic wins 2025 Geneva Open title © Imago / Psnewz
Prior to his triumph in Geneva just a couple of days ago, Novak Djokovic had not won an ATP title since lifting the ATP Finals trophy at the end of the 2023 season.
While the 24-time Grand Slam champion won a stunning, career-completing gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games last year, another title on the official ATP Tour remained elusive for 18 barren months until he clinched the Geneva Open title with victory over Hubert Hurkacz in Saturday’s showpiece.
It marked a huge milestone for the Serb, who became only the third man in history to reach 100 career titles.
Yet, this triumph was also significant for other, more pressing, reasons. Prior to Geneva, Djokovic had not won a clay-court match so far this season and would have headed into the second Grand Slam of the year with two losses to his name on the surface had he not decided to enter the draw in Switzerland.
“I needed to win matches, and particularly on this surface,” Djokovic explained to a press conference ahead of his first-round match at Roland-Garros tomorrow.
“For me at least, it doesn’t maybe come as natural to play well from the blocks, so to say, from the very first tournaments of the season on clay.
“So I’m the type of player that needs to get some matches under his belt before the big tournaments like, of course, the biggest one being Roland Garros and being the biggest priority on this surface.
“So that’s the biggest reason why I went to Geneva. Obviously I had family there, so I was feeling good off the court, as well, and I already had a great time last year, to be honest, played semis last year and was very well-received by the public in Geneva, great support.”
geneva title releases much-needed pressure valve for djokovic ahead of roland-garros
As well as earning an invaluable five match wins on clay ahead of Roland-Garros, clinching his 100th ATP title also helps to alleviate some of the pressure ahead of Paris.
“It was also a great chance to win the 100th title, and I’ll take anything that is kind of left on the table in a sense,” Djokovic continued.
“Ruud was not in the tournament this year. He was dominating the last three years. I actually saw him, and I said, Thanks for not coming there and letting me win.”
With the burden of not having won an ATP title for 18 months finally relieved, and the added weight of chasing a 100th career title also off his back, Djokovic can embark on his latest quest for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam win with a renewed sense of levity that his precious victory in Geneva has provided him.
“It’s a different feeling for me now than it was two, three weeks ago, for sure,” he concluded.
“I’m just glad it all turned out to be perfect for me in that sense, and yeah, let’s see how I’m able to play here in Paris.”
