Novak Djokovic delivered a birthday triumph at the Geneva Open on Thursday, defeating Italy's Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 6-4 in a hard-fought quarterfinal match. The Serbian tennis star, celebrating his 38th birthday, avenged his loss to Arnaldi at last month's Madrid Open with a dramatic comeback in chilly Swiss conditions.
After smashing his racket in frustration following a second-set deficit, Djokovic rallied from 4-1 down, winning five consecutive games to secure victory. The world No. 1 acknowledged the challenging weather and close nature of the match, stating: "It was much closer than maybe the scoring indicates."
The day saw other upsets as top-seeded Taylor Fritz fell to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz, while British player Cameron Norrie advanced to face Djokovic in Friday's semifinal after defeating Australia's Alexei Popyrin.
Djokovic's performance demonstrated his trademark resilience, particularly after appearing to strain his right knee during a crucial stretch. The 24-time Grand Slam champion now eyes his first ATP Tour final of 2024 as he continues preparations for the French Open.
