Birthday boy Novak Djokovic wins in Geneva

World no. 1 Novak Djokovic made a winning start at the ATP 250 event in Geneva. Novak faced Yannick Hanfmann in the second round and scored a 6-3, 6-3 victory in an hour and 29 minutes, beating his opponent and the rain on his 37th birthday! Djokovic built the advantage before the rain delay and lost his focus a bit when they returned, trailing 3-0 in the second set before rattling off six games. The Serb played against 11 break points in a couple of challenging games, denying ten and keeping the pressure on the other side. Hanfmann served at 84% and drew nothing from that, giving away 46% of the points in his games and losing serve four times from nine chances offered to Djokovic. Novak had the upper hand in the shortest and mid-range exchanges, playing well in the pivotal moments and notching his first triumph in Geneva. Also, the Serb grabbed his 1100th ATP win, becoming the third player to achieve that after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer.

Novak Djokovic, Geneva 2024© Stream screenshot

Novak Djokovic celebrated a win on his 37th birthday.

There were no chances for the returners in the opening five games, with two rivals completing them in 15 minutes! Novak closed the fifth game with a service winner and made a push on the return in the next one. World no. 1 created three break chances after Hanfmann’s loose forehand and seized the third with a forehand winner that sent him 4-2 in front. Yannick landed a forehand down the line winner in the seventh game, earning two break chances. Novak saved them and held after the rival’s loose forehand, forging a 5-2 advantage. Hanfmann fired an ace in the eighth game, prolonging the battle and making a push on the return at 3-5. The German landed a crafty drop shot winner in the ninth game and denied the Serb’s set point. Yannick created four break points and wasted them before the rain sent them off the court. The match resumed an hour later, and Novak played against the fifth break point after Yannick’s forehand crosscourt winner.

Novak Djokovic, Geneva 2024© Stream screenshot

Hanfmann wasted it with a wayward backhand before Novak converted the second set point with an ace, wrapping up the opener 6-3 after 49 minutes. The German played better at the beginning of the second set, creating three break chances in the second game and seizing the last after the Serb’s loose drop shot. Hanfmann held at love with a winner in game three, moving 3-0 up and creating another break chance in the next one after Djokovic’s another poor drop shot. Novak saved it with a service winner, held and gained a boost. World no. 1 pulled the break back in game five and held after deuce for 3-3. Djokovic clinched a break at 30 in the seventh game and held at 15 a few minutes later for a 5-3 advantage. Novak pushed strong on the return in game nine, rattling off his sixth straight game and moving over the top.