Novak Djokovic Creates History! Serbian Ace Defeats Hubert Hurkacz in Geneva Open Final to Claim 100th Career Title
Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, etched his name further into tennis lore by defeating Hubert Hurkacz in a thrilling three-set final at the 2025 Gonet Geneva Open on May 24, 2025, to claim his 100th ATP Tour-level singles title. The Serbian maestro battled past the Polish sixth seed 5-7, 7-6(5), 7-6(4) in a match lasting over three hours, becoming only the third man in the Open Era to reach the century mark in titles, joining Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103), as reported by VAVEL USA and Reuters.
Epic Final Showdown
The Geneva Open final, described as “one of the best clay-court matches of the season” by VAVEL USA, saw Djokovic overcome a resilient Hurkacz, who pushed him to two tiebreaks. Hurkacz struck first, taking the opening set 7-5 with a crucial break, capitalizing on his powerful serve and net play. Djokovic, however, regrouped, leveling the match in a tense second-set tiebreak, 7-6(5), after saving break points and sharpening his backhand, per Sportskeeda. The deciding set went to another tiebreak, where Djokovic’s experience and composure prevailed, 7-6(4), as he converted his opportunity to seal the milestone title after a grueling battle.
Djokovic’s performance featured 11 aces and 34 winners, showcasing his trademark baseline resilience and tactical nous, despite dropping his serve multiple times, a rarity noted by VAVEL USA. Hurkacz, who didn’t drop a set en route to the final and boasted a 14-9 record in 2025, including a quarterfinal upset over top seed Taylor Fritz, challenged with his serve-and-volley game but couldn’t overcome Djokovic’s 7-0 head-to-head dominance, per ATP Tour and The Playoffs.
A Milestone Journey
Djokovic’s path to his 100th title was marked by a challenging 2025 season. After starting the year with 99 titles, he faced early exits in Monte Carlo and Madrid and lost finals in Miami and Shanghai, per The Playoffs. His Geneva campaign, his first event since parting with coach Andy Murray, saw him dispatch Marton Fucsovics (6-2, 6-3), Matteo Arnaldi (6-4, 6-4), and Cameron Norrie (6-4, 6-7(6), 6-1) in a tough semifinal, avenging prior clay losses, per BBC Sport and ESPN. The 38-year-old, who celebrated his birthday during the tournament, called the final his “toughest match” of the event, praising his third-set regroup as his “best set of the tournament,” per BBC Sport.
The victory, his first ATP title since the 2024 Paris Olympics, positions Djokovic as a formidable contender for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam at the French Open, starting May 25, 2025, where he faces Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the first round, per Reuters and AP News. Posts on X, like @TennisTV’s “Title No. 100 in sight 👀” and @TheTennisEmotes’ call for a “SPECTACLE,” captured the anticipation, with fans lauding his “unparalleled skills,” per @CGTNSportsScene.
Significance and Legacy
Djokovic’s 100th title, achieved in his 143rd career final, underscores his longevity and dominance, with an 86.5% first-serve win rate and four of nine break points converted against Norrie setting the stage, per Reuters. The Geneva triumph, at an ATP 250 event, provided crucial clay-court match practice, addressing his earlier 2025 clay struggles, per AP News. Hurkacz, despite the loss, showed form with a 7-2 clay record in 2025, but his 0-8 record against Djokovic remains a hurdle, per The Playoffs.
As Olympics.com noted, Djokovic’s milestone places him alongside Connors and Federer, with only Martina Navratilova (167), Chris Evert (157), and Steffi Graf (107) hitting the century mark in WTA history. His Geneva title, broadcast on Movistar+ and TennisTV, was a “perfect confidence booster” for Roland Garros, per BBC Sport, with fans on X like @rishi45kumar predicting further success. Djokovic’s historic feat, blending resilience and brilliance, cements his case as the greatest of all time, setting the stage for a dramatic French Open campaign.
