SWITZERLAND: Novak Djokovic, 37, beat Germany’s Annannik Hanfman in a rain-soaked Geneva Open quarter-final.
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, made his first ATP 250 appearance in Switzerland as part of his preparations for the French Open, winning 6-3 6-3.
This makes him the third player – after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer – to reach 1,100 ATP tournament wins.
After the match, the crowd sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Djokovic and he was presented with a chocolate birthday cake by the match officials.
“If we don’t win the match, it won’t be my birthday,” Djokovic said.
The world’s top player did not reach the final in 2024 and will next face Canadian Denis Shapovalov or Dutch sixth seed Tallon Griekspoor.
In the first round, Hanfmann defeated England’s Andy Murray 7-5 6-2, playing in his first ATP Tour-level match since injuring his ankle at the Miami Open in March.
After Djokovic served for the set at 5-3, Hanfmann missed four breaks before being held in the ninth game, marking the start of a rain delay that lasted more than an hour.
As play resumed, Djokovic quickly secured the set, but Hanfmann broke his serve for 3-0 at the start of the second set.
He had a chance to win a double break but failed to capitalize as Djokovic leveled the match in the next game, helped by a perfectly executed forehand by Hanfman.
Buoyed by two superb court winners in the ninth game, Djokovic reeled off six straight games to claim victory.
Djokovic secures victory to advance at Geneva Open
