Novak Djokovic in line for Andy Murray showdown after thrilling Geneva Open draw
It was one of the great rivalries at the top of the men’s game and we could be in for a thrilling revival of the Novak Djokovic vs Andy Murray battle in Geneva next week.
Murray faces a challenging opening match against Germany’s Yannik Hanfmann, with the world No 59 possible favourite to beat the Scot and secure a match against Djokovic in round two.
Yet the prospect of another contest against his old rival Djokovic is bound to inspire Murray, who has confirmed he is likely to retire from tennis at some point in 2024.
Tournament organisers at the Geneva Open would have had limited expectations over the calibre of players they could attract to their event that falls just a week before the French Open.
With the game’s elite performers tending to favour weeks of practice at the Grand Slam venue rather than playing in a competitive tournament, they would not have expected world No 1 Djokovic to change his schedule and request a wildcard.
They may also have been surprised to receive an entry from 2022 and 2023 French Open runner-up Casper Ruud, as well as American stars Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton.
Canada’s Denis Shapovalov is another big name playing in Geneva, along with rising British star Jack Draper, yet it is the prospect of a Djokovic vs Murray match-up that will set pulses racing.
Murray is making an unexpectedly swift return to the ATP Tour after he damaged ankle ligaments at the Indian Wells Masters event in March, with his comeback event in Bordeaux coming to an end when he was well beaten by France’s Gregoire Barrere in Bordeaux.
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Djokovic’s appearance in Geneva comes after he backtracked on his claim that he didn’t need any extra match practice ahead of the French Open following his defeat in the Rome Masters last weekend.
The Serbian crashed out of the Italian Open after suffering a comprehensive defeat to world number 32 Alejandro Tabilo in Rome, as he lost 6-2 6-3 in just 67 minutes.
Seeking the 1,100th win of his career, Djokovic committed 22 unforced errors, served five double faults and failed to create a single break point on his left-handed opponent’s serve.
Djokovic holds a commanding 25-11 lead in his head-to-head battles with Murray, but the pair have not met since the 2017 Doha Final, where Djokovic secured a three-set win.
Two of Murray’s Grand Slam final wins came against Djokovic, as he beat the Serbian in the 2012 US Open and the 2013 Wimbledon finales, with the Scot suggesting his old friend and rival deserves to be recognised as the greatest player of all-time.
“Novak’s been an incredible player for a very long time, like Roger and Rafa, it’s the longevity and how long they’ve all been able to do that for,” said Murray after Djokovic’s US Open win last year.
“Novak’s longevity has been the greatest. He’s played at this level for such a long time now.
“I don’t think he’s going to stop at 24 titles, but you never know how long it will last. Physically, motivation, whether someone like (Carlos) Alcaraz improves – he’s an amazing player Alcaraz, he’s brilliant, but to do what Novak is doing on a consistent basis is different.
“It’s not the same as doing it for 15-20 weeks a year like Novak is doing, every time he steps on the court. I do think that Alcaraz will soon get to that level but I don’t think this is going to be the last time that Novak wins a Grand Slam.”
