He had a very happy birthday Novak Djokovic in it ATP of Geneva. The Serbian, world number one, celebrated his 37th with a 6-3, 6-3 victory against the German Yannick Hanfmann, in his debut at the Swiss competition, for which he accepted an invitation at the last minute. It was his 1,100th victory at the ATP level, with which he came closer to the two record-breaking men on the circuit, the American Jimmy Connorswho scored 1,274 in his career, and the Swiss Roger Federerwho added 1,251.
In a match interrupted by rain in the first set, Hanfmann only converted one of the ten break points he had. The German lacked conviction, and in the second set he was 3-0 up on the scoreboard. But Absent He asserted his hierarchy and turned the situation around. He accelerated, winning six consecutive games and closing out his first victory in Geneva, in just 72 minutes.
Djokovic waits in the quarterfinals for the winner of the duel that they dispute, at the close of the day, the Dutchman Tallon Greek tracksixth seed, and the Canadian Denis Shapovalovwho entered the draw thanks to a wild card.
After the close of his match, the Serbian had a special celebration. The public sang the “Happy Birthday” -as the people who had received him had already done when he arrived at the club earlier- and the organization gave him a cake, which he was encouraged to try (despite the strict diet that he has followed for years) and which he later shared with the ball kids and even with the security personnel present on the field.
“Listen to the ‘Happy Birthday’ It really moved me. “I am very happy to win on this special day,” commented the winner of 24 Grand Slams.
“The key was the birthday, which probably wouldn’t be the same if I hadn’t won the game”he stated between laughs. “It’s nice to be here for the first time in this tournament, with my family who came to support me too. I’ve grown up with my aunt, my uncle and my two cousins most of my life. We don’t get the chance to see each other much lately, so which is very nice. I’m having a very nice time on the track, but also off it.”.
Beyond the joy and jokes, the victory is very important for Djokovic, who after a peculiar start to the season, without regularity, titles or finals and with a level well below his usual level, decided last week to travel to Geneva to have a final preparation tournament for Roland Garros.
In a year in which he decided to limit his calendar to have more time for his personal life and change his entire work team, The Serbian has played seven tournaments (counting the one who is playing this week). He won thirteen games and lost five.
If we talk about brick dust, his performances were far from expectations (at least those that he usually generates). He made the semi-finals Montecarloin which he lost in three sets to the Norwegian Casper Ruud (10th, and was eliminated in the third round in Roma by the chilean Alejandro Tabilo (32°). On that surface he has a 5-2 record, including, of course, the victory against Hanfmann.
Without the forcefulness or security that he showed in 2023, the year in which he seemed invincible and was close to winning the calendar Grand Slam (he only lost Wimbledon), Absent He wants to recover his sensations this week to arrive fully in Pariswhere he will go for much more than a title.
In the club Bois de Boulogne, will seek to defend the crown it won last year; add his 25th “great”, which would improve the historical record that he today shares with Margaret Court and would become the second player to win a Major with more than 37 years in the Open Era (after Ken Rosewall in Australia 1972); and keep number 1 in the world.
Two Argentine victories
Two Argentines celebrated this Wednesday in the tournaments that close the preparation for Roland Garros, Sebastian Baezwho reached the quarterfinals of the ATP of Genevay Tomas Etcheverrywho advanced to the same instance in the Lyon. In the French competition, he also said goodbye Francisco Cerúndolo.
Báez added his 19th victory on dirt of the season. Photo EFE/EPA/SALVATORE DI NOLFI
Báez, 20th in the world, defeated the Spanish R by a solid 6-3 and 6-0open Carballes Baena, 62nd, and now he will have an important challenge. Because he will go for a place in the semis against Casper Ruudseven in the ranking, champion of Barcelona and finalist in Monte Carlo this year.
The Norwegian won the two duels they played previously, both last year and on slow courts, in Estoril and Hamburg. Although the Buenos Aires native is in a great moment, especially on this surface, in which he has accumulated 19 wins this year, more than any other player on the circuit.
In Lyon, Etcheverry29th, benefited from the Brazilian’s retirement due to injury Thiago Seyboth Wild, 58th, who abandoned when he fell 7-5 and 3-0. The man from La Plata will now face the German Dominik Koepfer67th in the classification.
While, cerundolo, 23rd in the ATP and fourth favorite in the French tournament, could not overcome the debut. After being freed in the first round, he lost 6-2, 2-6 and 6-3 against the local Hugo Gaston104° and coming from the qualy.
2024-05-22 20:31:09
#Novak #Djokovic #celebrated #birthday #victory #Geneva #reached #victories #ATP #circuit
