Novak Djokovic is one match away from reaching his first final of the season and have a chance for his first title of the year.
I was lucky to find some really good serves and from that moment onwards really played some good solid tennis. The second set was really good. Novak Djokovic
He beat a resilient Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 7-5 6-1 in the Geneva Open quarter final on his debut at the 250 level event and if the seedings are correct, he will face Casper Ruud for the title after the Norwegian defeated Argentina’s Sebastian Baez 6-3 3-6 6-4.
In the semis Djokovic will face the Czech Tomas Machac who beat American Alex Michelsen 6-3 7-5(2) to progress to the last four. The Serbian though had to finish his third-round match with Canada’s Denis Shapovalov earlier in the day after it was called off because of rain on Wednesday.
They traded the next few games, with Griekspoor’s confident serving and ripping backhands causing Djokovic issues and at 5-4, held four set points when the world No.1 finally responded with some aggressive play to defend them and turn the situation in his favour by going on to claim the set and stamp his authority on the match by sweeping through the second set.
“I thought that the first set could have gone his way easily because I think he was the better player for most of the first set,” Djokovic said after the win.
“I was lucky to find some really good serves and from that moment onwards really played some good solid tennis. The second set was really good.”
Ruud later in the day, edged out Baez, the fifth seed, in three set to face Italian Flavio Cobolli next, a step away from his fifth final of the season and a possible match-up with Djokovic.
Second seed Ruud, who won the Geneva trophy in 2021 and 2022, survived the two-hour clash with the South American who took him all the way.
Unfortunately his second double fault of the match from the Argentine handed Ruud his place in the last four.
“It was a very close match in the end, back-and-forth, back-and-forth,” Ruud admitted.
“Very happy to be through. Back in the semi-finals here in Geneva is a great feeling.”
The 25-year-old is aiming to become the first three-time champion in the tournament’s history.
Casper Ruud is aiming for a third title in Geneva
(Photo by TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images)
