Djokovic celebrates birthday with 1100th win in Geneva

Novak Djokovic, who turned 37 years old on Wednesday, celebrated his birthday with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat of Yannick Hanfmann during second-round action at the Gonet Geneva Open. Djokovic needed one hour and one hour and 29 minutes to secure a quarter-final spot.

Although the scoreline doesn’t show it, Hanfmann hardly made it routine for the top-ranked Serb. The German generated 11 break points during the match, but he was doomed by converting only one of those chances. Five of them came in one game alone — with Djokovic serving for the first set at 5-3. An hour rain delay also came in the middle of that game, after which the Serb finally held to close it out.

Hanfmann went up an early break in the second and then held for 3-0, but it was all Djokovic the rest of the way. In fact, the 24-time Grand Slam champion did not lose another game — reeling off six in a row to clinch victory in style.

“The key was the birthday,” Djokovic joked. “The birthday probably wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t win the match, but it’s nice to be here for the first time at this tournament, with my family coming here to support as well. I grew up with my aunt, uncle and two cousins for most of my life. We don’t get the chance to see each other that much lately, so it’s really nice. I’m getting some really quality time on the court, but also off the court.”

Wednesday’s result marked Djokovic’s 1100th win on the ATP Tour.

Djokovic will face either Tallon Griekspoor or Denis Shapovalov in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, it was still a productive tournament for Hanfmann. The world No 85 beat Andy Murray 7-5, 6-2 in the opening round.

Geneva ATP 250, other second-round results:

• Denis Shapovalov vs. Tallon Griekspoor
• Casper Ruud (2) beat Sebastian Ofner (Q): 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
• Alex Michelsen beat Taylor Fritz (3): 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
• Tomas Machac beat Nicolas Moreno De Alboran (Q): 4-6, 7-5, 6-0
• Sebastian Baez (5) beat Roberto Carballes Baena: 6-3, 6-0
• Alexander Shevchenko vs. Emil Ruusuvuori
• Flavio Cobolli beat Ben Shelton (4): 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-2

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