Novak Djokovic celebrated his 38th birthday in the best possible manner after defeating Matteo Arnaldi in straight sets to progress to his second successive Geneva Open semifinal. The Serbian still had patches in his game, which were visible in the second set. However, the former World No.1 won the match’s last five games to secure his second successive win at the Geneva Open.
The biggest talking point came midway in the second set when the Serb got broken by Arnaldi. As a result, the 24-time Grand Slam champion smashed his racket in anger. Djokovic has created a reputation for being erratic on the court, and this racket smash is the first of many he has had in his career. However, the racket smash proved crucial as the negative energy left him, and he was able to play his best tennis after that.
What did Novak Djokovic Say?
After his second win at the Geneva Open, Djokovic said the racket smash helped him find his best tennis. According to the reports from Tennis365, he said, “I think I’m playing really, really good tennis. Today [there] was a lot of tension on the court. Straight-set win, but it was much closer than maybe the score indicates. Yeah, I was 4-1 down in the second. Somehow, I don’t know, after that racket breaking (smiling), I didn’t lose the game and kind of found my, I guess, optimal state and balance mentally and emotionally to be able to play the best tennis when it was most needed. So hopefully I can carry that into tomorrow.”
Djokovic has been criticized for not letting his emotions show on the court. However, something has clicked since Andy Murray left his coaching panel. His performances have improved, and he is beginning to showcase his emotions on the court. Djokovic also avenged his Madrid Open loss to Arnaldi, which is potentially the reason for the tension on the court.
What’s at Stake for Djokovic This Week?
He is now in his second successive Geneva Open semifinal. Djokovic is seeking a 100th ATP title this week, putting him in the same club as Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer. Moreover, he will have a chance to win his first ATP title since the 2023 ATP Finals, where he beat Jannik Sinner in the final to win the tournament. Going into this tournament, he had not won a single clay match in 2025.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
