A ‘100’ for NOVAK Djokovic as Serbian triumphs in Geneva

At 38, Novak Djokovic addend another chapter to his illustrious career, winning his 100^th ATP Tour title in Geneva on Saturday night. For those who had proclaimed the Serbian is past prime and his split with coach Andy Murray was not in good taste, Novak has nothing left to prove. Yet, in an intense final, when Novak downed Hubert Hurkacz in a three-setter, he had set social media on fire.

For those who have romanced tennis for decades, Novak winning a 100^th title is not as defining as winning 24 Grand Slam titles. These days, there is loads of emotions when Novak wins a big title. This win, coming as it were a day ahead of the French Open, is a a booster shot for the legend. Many said Novak is not the same, forgetting how much effort he put in winning the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

“I had to work for it. that’s for sure. Hubi was probably closer to victory in the entire match than I was,” said Novak later. Why Novak chose to play in Geneva can be questioned but fact remains he needed to get match practice in, on clay. So, this triumph augurs well for him, though bookmakers are not going to mark him as favourite to win the French Open. That should be a contest among heavyweights where Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner can produce the heavy artillery stuff.

To be sure, winning one more ATP Tour title for Novak is a great piece of stats. For those who love tennis for its characters and personalities, Jimmy Connors won 109 ATP Tour titles and Roger Federer won 103. However, the defining difference, legends Connors and Federer did not win 24 Grand Slam titles.

Again, at 38, to say Novak is an Alpha Male would be strange. If you look at how fit Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner are, Novak works hard to preserve his sculpted body. He has been able to hold his muscular frame together because of discipline, the hard work he puts in training and also a strong mental approach. How long he can continue like this is a question which cannot be answered easily. The big point, each time Novak is written off, he comes back with a bang.

When he suffered a meniscus tear in his knee last year at the French Open, it was due to wet courts and bad scheduling. He had a quick surgery and bounced back to compete at Wimbledon. That was defining, in terms of approach and spirit. In a matter of few weeks, Novak returned to Paris and won the Olympic gold. He wept, and so did his family and fans.

The scenes last night in Geneva were no different as Novak was joined on court by his children. This man has spoken of feeling lonely and not sure how long he will continue as a tennis pro. For sure, Novak is still a force to reckon with. He beats players in finals, who are from a younger generation and supposed to be better equipped with skills and fitness. For Novak to win on clay is great. He will approach two big Grand Slams – French and Wimbledon -- with hope and hype.

For those who are asking on social media if Novak can win 109 titles like Jimmy Connors, that’s not important. Yes, Novak did not win a Grand Slam title in 2024. If he can pull off one in 2025, that will be the icing on the cake. A 25th Grand Slam title will be beyond the reach of any male tennis player, where the sport has become so hard in terms of physicality and how arduous the tennis calendar is today.