Novak Djokovic appeared far from his best during the first two clay Masters 1000 tournaments this year.
After a strong showing that took him to the final of the Miami Open in March, expectations were high for Djokovic as he entered the clay court season.
However, his campaign started disappointingly when Alejandro Tabilo defeated him in the first round of the Monte-Carlo Masters, 3-6, 4-6.
Looking to recover in Madrid, Djokovic faced another unexpected setback as Matteo Arnaldi triumphed over him, winning 6-3, 6-4.
Following this disappointing stretch, Djokovic withdrew from the Italian Open to focus on his preparations for Roland Garros in Geneva.
Djokovic Claims First Clay Win of the Year in Geneva
Finally securing a victory, Djokovic defeated Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in straight sets, marking his first win on clay this season.
During the on-court interview, the 37-year-old revealed that his first serve was key in overcoming Fucsovics. “This was my first win on clay,” Djokovic expressed. “It’s great to get that monkey off my back; the surface demands a lot from players.”
He noted, “The altitude here helps if your serve is on point, and it was today. I achieved a high percentage of first serves and earned many free points when under pressure.”
Djokovic Sets Sights on Arnaldi Rematch
Next, Djokovic prepares for a rematch against Arnaldi, who has reached the quarterfinals in Geneva after winning his previous matches.
Arnaldi handed Djokovic his latest defeat at the Madrid Open. The young Italian has openly discussed how he admired Djokovic as a child, considering it a triumph just to share the court with him.
Djokovic, aiming to take revenge and extend his head-to-head record to 2-0 over Arnaldi, will look to maintain his solid serving statistics when they clash on Thursday, May 22, in the Geneva Open quarterfinals.
