Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Sliding across the cozy confines of center court, Novak Djokovic displayed ball-control brilliance to break the ice—and snap his losing skid—in Geneva today.
A fit and focused Djokovic dispatched Marton Fucsovics 6-2, 6-3 snapping his three-match losing streak to post his first clay court win of the season at the Geneva Open.
Setting the tone with probing serve, Djokovic served 73 percent, stamped four love holds, won 10 of 13 second-serve points and did not face a break point in the 77-minute sweep.
It was certainly Djokovic’s most commanding performance since his run to the Miami Open final in March and his first clay-court victory since he out-dueled Carlos Alcaraz to win the Olympic gold medal for Serbia at the Paris Olympic Games last August.
"My first win this season on clay," Djokovic said in his on-court interview. "It is great to break the ice in a way. It is a very demanding surface. We all know how tricky it is to play on clay, compared to the other surfaces, you always have to expect an extra ball, an extra shot.
“Here, a bit more altitude, so it helps if you have a good serve. Today I think that was my strongest shot. I had a high percentage of first serves, a lot of free points on the first serve when I needed, to get out of trouble.
“I think it makes life on the court a bit easier, so I am very glad to be able to play the best tennis when needed. All the way through, I was quite focused and pleased with the level of tennis, so hopefully that can continue tomorrow."
It is Djokovic’s first match working with new coach and good friend Dusan Vemic and potentially the first step in a major career march. Djokovic opted out of Rome to train for Roland Garros where he will pursue a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title.
MORE: Dusan Vemic to Coach Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros and Geneva
The Serbian superstar, who celebrates his 38th birthday tomorrow, reached his 220th Tour-level quarterfinal and continues his quest to join legends Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer as the third man in Open Era history to win 100 Tour-level titles.
It won’t be easy either.
This victory vaults Djokovic into a quarterfinal rematch with Italian striker Matteo Arnaldi. Earlier, Arnaldi won 20 of 28 second-serve points dispatching Fabian Marozsan 6-3, 7-6(3). Arnaldi saved both break points he faced.
Last month in Madrid, Arnaldi toppled Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 becoming the first man ever ranked outside the Top 30 to defeat the former world No. 1 in Madrid.
Playing his idol for the first time, Arnaldi had one simple aim.
"At the start, I was just trying not to shit my pants, to be honest," Arnaldi said with a smile. "Because when I got on court, I've never played on this court, to be honest, I've never even practiced on it."
Encouraging signs for Djokovic fans were evident from the first ball in his Geneva return today.
Djokovic’s return game was firing, his signature shot, the backhand down the line, was buzzing with precision, his court coverage and ball control on the stretch were both impressive. Most importantly, Djokovic looked completely committed and engaged in each point rather than the guy who sometimes paced the court like a man looking for answers during his three-match losing streak.
Showing a fast first step, Djokovic ran down a dropper and won an all-court point for a break point in the fourth game. Djokovic forced a forehand error breaking for 3-1 then backed up the break at love for 4-1.
Perhaps it’s because he missed the competition or because he was playing in front of his family, including his parents, and his wife, Jelena, or because it was his first match with his buddy Dusan Vemic in the box or simply Djokovic’s career-long dominance of Fucsovics—he’s now 6-0 against the 33-year-old Hungarian—but Djokovic played with a relaxed intensity today.
He was eager and engaged but wasn’t beating himself up after miscues either.
The Serbian’s speed spooked Fucsovics into badly bungling an easy drop volley to face triple set point.
A dynamic Djokovic slid into a spectacular backhand strike down the line breaking to take the 36-minute opener with a bang while rattling his racquet to his box in celebration.
Fucsovics is so shredded he looks like he could go toe-to-toe with the Terminator in a calisthenics contest and possibly come out on top.
Yet for all his physical strength, the Hungarian lacks one imposing weapon.
In this match, Djokovic’s desire was clear and his court sense sharper than during his three-match losing streak where he sometimes grew a bit too reactive.
Today, Djokovic was quick off the mark and moving with vigor. An example: When a Fucsovics net-cord shot plopped over, Djokovic’s craving to catch up to the ball was both visible and audible. Grunting growing louder, Djokovic caught up to the dropper and bumped a forehand drop shot reply wrapping his fourth love hold for a 2-1 second-set lead.
Riding a streak of 17 consecutive service points, Djokovic played a picture perfect serve-and-volley set up, but punched his forehand volley into net. That miss prevented another shutout service hold as Djokovic held at 15 for a 3-2 second-set lead then took a timeout for treatment of an apparent blister on his foot.
Pressed to deuce in the seventh game, Djokovic repelled a pulsating Fucsovics forehand return down the line with a stirring, spinning one-handed backhand flick that landed on his opponent’s baseline.
In a challenging deuce hold, Djokovic zapped his fourth ace out wide then buzzed a backhand winner down the line holding for 5-2.
Tapping his right elbow with his Head racquet before serving, Djokovic converted his second match point. In a classy finish, Djokovic drilled one final backhand down the line to seal his first clay-court win of the 2025 season with a brilliant strike.
Djokovic’s first clay-court win of the season was impressive, his next clay-court test against Madrid conqueror Arnaldi will be intriguing.