The Serbian beats Hanfmann with a double 6-3 and reaches the round figure. Then the candles for turning 37 today
Luigi Ansaloni
May 22 – 10.02pm – MILAN
A cake on the pitch, victory number 1100 of his career and finally some smiles after a truly difficult period, which perhaps still hasn’t passed. It was a nice birthday for Novak Djokovic, just 37 years old, who at the ATP 250 in Geneva won the first match of the tournament against the German Yannick Hanfmann, number 85 in the world, with a double 6-3 6-3.
Nole appeared happy to be there on the Swiss pitch, with the organizers giving all the honors to the world number one. Too early to dispel doubts about Djokovic’s real condition, especially in view of Roland Garros, where he defends not only the 2023 title but also Jannik Sinner’s assault on world number one, but in the meantime the Serbian is on the attack of his title number 99. By the way, in front of him, in the history of tennis, in terms of victories in single matches there are only Jimmy Connors (1274) and Roger Federer (1251). Tomorrow, in the quarter-finals, he will face the winner of Shapovalov-Griekspoor.
DARDERI OK IN LYON
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Victory, in Lyon, for Luciano Darderi, who he beat in the second round of the French tournament. Adrian Mannarino, world no.22, defeated in two sets after two hours of play with a score of 7-6(4) 6-3. For the Italian, capable of eliminating the No. 3 seed in the draw, it is the victory against the highest-ranked opponent he has ever beaten in his career (the victory against Cerundolo, No. 23 in the ranking, came in April). In the quarterfinals he will face the French Arthur Rinderknech, who beat Frances Tiafoe.
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