Geneva – Novak Djokovic finally won his 100th career single title on Saturday by winning the rally to become Geneva’s open champion, beating Hubert Halkach 5-7, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2) in more than three hours.
Djokovic has lost two finals since his 99th title won the Parisio Philosophy at Roland Garos nine months ago.
The 100th was surrounded by his family in the city of Switzerland, where some of his relatives live, after a typically tough, hardworking match two days after his 38th birthday.
“I’m grateful to clinch 100 here,” Djokovic said in an on-court interview. “I had to work for it, that’s certainly true.”
Djokovic joins the tennis great Jimmy Connors, who has recorded 109 titles, and Roger Federer wins 103 as the only man in the era of opening in the tournament’s first century victory.
The three-time French Open Champion returns to Paris, where he is about to add to his 24 Grand Slam single titles. He plays the first round of the Open against US Mackenzie McDonald on Monday.
The Serbs completed a surge in victory by choking out 4-3 in the deciding set after breaking the serve for the first time by smashing the Halkacchi’s serve. Djokovic took that breakpoint chance with the forehand crosscourt winner and advanced to the net with a sliced half boree from Halkach.
“Hubert was probably closer to winning the whole game than I did,” Djokovic said. “I don’t know how I broke his serve.”
He was the first man in the open era to win a title in 20 seasons.
Djokovic’s 100th single title came in July 2006 almost 19 years after its first 19 years. This also appeared in Clay against the Nicolasmass, a Chilean, currently in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, who are now in charge of the Halkachi.
Since the Parisiolim Games, Djokovic lost the final to Janik Sinner at the Shanghai Masters last year, and to Jakubumensik at the Miami Masters in March.
