Djokovic Set to Clash with Norrie in Geneva Open Semi-Final

GENEVA — Novak Djokovic celebrated his 37th birthday in style, securing a spot in the Geneva Open semi-finals on Thursday with a dominant showing at the Tennis Club de Genève.

The holder of 24 Grand Slam titles clinched a straight-set triumph over Matteo Arnaldi, prevailing 6-4, 6-4 despite the challenging, humid conditions.

This victory served as redemption for Djokovic, who had previously suffered a defeat against Arnaldi at the Madrid Masters in April. With this win, Djokovic demonstrates strong momentum as he heads into the French Open.

“It feels great to once again reach the semi-finals. My hope is to advance at least one stage further this year—that’s my objective,” Djokovic commented following the match. “I believe my tennis is at a high level. Though it was a straight-sets win, the match was much tighter than the score suggests.”

He also spoke about the importance of his mental and emotional state during the game, noting it was key to performing at his peak.

“After I broke my racquet, I managed to find the mental and emotional equilibrium needed to play my best tennis when it counted most,” Djokovic added.

The audience acknowledged Djokovic’s birthday by presenting him with a cake on the court, adding a celebratory atmosphere to his special day.

Notably, Djokovic is now scheduled to compete against Cameron Norrie in the semi-finals. Norrie progressed after staging an impressive comeback against Australian player Alexei Popyrin, winning 7-6 (8-6), 6-4.