By S. Obeyesekere
In a battle for supremacy between a young order that has taken over the roost driven by the terrific reigning wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, a fading Novak Djokovic won a battle between age and youth of a career belittled by slowing down limbs that has decimated the ice cool ruthlessness that had hitherto thrust him right up as he bounced back to the summit of world tennis in a rare feat destined only for the immortals in the game becoming the third in history to smashing his way to an elite hall of fame 100 titles when he defeated Hubert Hurkacz.
In a now or never extraordinary feat to the elusive 100 titles that had in recent times suddenly seemed to drift away from him that raised concerns about his ability with experts beginning to comment he was no more the invincible Djokovic, the 38 year old surmounted the hallmark of hard work sweat to reproducing the great form of yore to the elusive of his mightiest feat, the 100th singles title that had kept running away like a slippery slope that had raised question marks as to Djokovic’s form.
It though, was not to desert him as he lived true to his determination that he would be back a rearing to go for that ultimate century all-time great record in winning the Gonet Geneva Open in a landmark odyssey that some can only dream of winning the Geneva Open.
The Everest magical feat
marked an incredible Djokovic tennis saga with his conquests also including a record 24 Grand Slam crowns and a record 40 ATP Masters 1000 trophies.
On Saturday, May 24, Djokovic beckoned destiny of ultimate greatness after beating Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz to win the Geneva Open to becoming only the third man in history after Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) to ascend the magical century in the Open era.
Asked by a journalist to explain his gift of success, Djokovic had shot back, “Its not a gift.
Its all about sweat.”
