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Happy birthday! A cake and a 1,100th win for Novak Djokovic
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 23.05.24. | 10:23
The Serb prepares for Roland Garros in Switzerland
Novak Djokovic celebrated his 37th birthday on Wednesday with the 1,100th win of his career as he gears up for his French Open title defence, progressing to the Geneva quarter-finals.
The world number one downed Germany's Yannick Hanfmann 6-3, 6-3 in the second round at the Parc des Eaux-Vives grounds.
Djokovic becomes only the third man after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer to reach the 1,100-win landmark.
Djokovic took a wild card to play in Geneva in a bid to rescue an alarming dip in form ahead of next week's French Open, the second Grand Slam of the year.
His record this year is now 13 wins and five defeats, and he has yet to reach a tournament final in 2024.
After beating Hanfmann, the crowd sang "Happy Birthday" to Djokovic as a cake with candles was brought out onto the court.
Four-year-old Novak Djokovic receives his very first tennis racquet for his birthday.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 22, 2024
37 years old today.
33 years later and he's a 24 time Grand Slam Champion. ❤
(via @telegrafrs) pic.twitter.com/WB9LBWb0sE
He lifted the cake and showed it off to the crowd, having a nibble before offering some to the ball boys and girls.
"The key was the birthday. My birthday probably wouldn't be the same if I didn't win the match," the Serb said.
"It's nice to be here for the first time in this tournament and to have my family here coming to support as well. I grew up with my aunt and my uncle and my two cousins for most of my life," he said, referring to his relatives who now live in Geneva.
"We don't get a 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.
"Thank-you so much for singing the 'Happy Birthday' song. That really touched me so I'm very happy to win on this special day."
Wow! 🤩
— Danny 🐊 (@DjokovicFan_) May 22, 2024
Novak Djokovic has just been presented a gluten-free Birthday cake by Geneva to celebrate his birthday and his 1100th career match win.
Happy Birthday. 🥳pic.twitter.com/AHdOwgZcJJ
In a match interrupted by rain, Djokovic was 3-0 down in the second set but rallied to close out the contest.
Djokovic was striking the ball cleanly and consistently from the baseline and throwing in occasional drop shots.
Djokovic will face either Denis Shapovalov or Tallon Griekspor in Thursday's quarter-finals.
That match was suspended due to rain at 3-3 in the second set after Shapovalov had claimed the opener on a tie-break.
Meanwhile second seed Casper Ruud, who won the Geneva title in 2021 and 2022, booked his spot in the quarter-finals with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner.
It was Ruud's 32nd tour-level win of the season. No player has earned more victories in 2024.
The Norwegian world number seven - who was beaten by Djokovic in last year's French Open final - will next face Argentinian fifth seed Sebastian Baez.
© Agence France-Presse
