Tennis

Novak Djokovic, the world's top-ranked tennis player, continued his impressive form on Thursday by reaching the semifinals of the Gonet Geneva Open. Djokovic defeated sixth-seeded Tallon Griekspoor 7-5, 6-1 in one hour and 17 minutes, extending his winning streak to 11 matches.The victory marked Djokovic's 1101st career win, making him only the second player in the Open Era to reach this milestone. The Serbian legend is now just 19 wins away from equaling Roger Federer's record of 1121 career victories.Djokovic's victory was not without its challenges. Griekspoor, who had to play two matches on Thursday, gave Djokovic a tough test in the first set. The Dutchman saved four set points before Djokovic finally broke his serve in the ninth game.From there, Djokovic took control of the match, winning seven consecutive games to take a commanding lead. Griekspoor managed to break Djokovic's serve in the second set, but the Serbian responded by winning the final eight points of the match.Djokovic will now face 23-year-old Czech Tomas Machac in the semifinals. Machac advanced to the semifinals after defeating American Alex Michelsen 6-3, 7-6 (2). Djokovic has a 1-0 head-to-head record against Machac, but their previous meeting went to a third-set tiebreaker.Djokovic is looking to build momentum ahead of the French Open, which begins on May 22. The Serbian has won the French Open twice, in 2016 and 2021, and is aiming to become the first man to win all four Grand Slams twice in the Open Era.

Casper Ruud, the former world No. 2, overcame a slow start to defeat Sebastian Ofner 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 at the Gonet Geneva Open on Wednesday. The victory sets up a quarterfinal clash with No. 5 seed Sebastian Baez.Ruud, who has been a contender for his first major title at this year's Roland Garros, had lost his last two matches after a strong start to the clay-court swing. However, he showed his resilience against Ofner, who had won his first set against a Top 10 player in 22 attempts.The Norwegian settled down after losing the first set and took control of the match, breaking Ofner three times in the second and third sets to secure the victory in just under two hours.Ruud's victory is a boost to his confidence ahead of Roland Garros, where he is considered a contender for the title. He will face Baez in the quarterfinals, a player he has a 2-0 head-to-head advantage against.Ofner, despite his defeat, showed his fighting spirit and ability to compete against top players. He will look to build on this performance in the upcoming tournaments.The Gonet Geneva Open is a key warm-up event for Roland Garros, and Ruud's victory is a reminder of his status as a contender for the French Open title.

Ben Shelton's Roland Garros preparations suffered a setback as he bowed out of the Gonet Geneva Open in the second round, succumbing to a 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-2 defeat against Flavio Cobolli.Shelton, seeded fourth, had hoped to build on his impressive clay-court form this season, which included a title in Houston and third-round appearances in Madrid and Rome. However, Cobolli, ranked 22nd, proved too strong, rallying from a set and a break down to secure his third ATP quarterfinal of the year.The American started brightly, breaking Cobolli's serve in the opening set and serving it out comfortably. He carried that momentum into the second set, breaking again and taking a 4-2 lead. But Cobolli refused to be deterred, breaking back in the eighth game and forcing a tiebreaker.In a stunning reversal, Cobolli dominated the tiebreaker, winning it 7-1 and leveling the match. The Italian continued to grow in confidence in the third set, breaking Shelton's serve twice and consolidating his lead with strong serving.Shelton, who had been serving and volleying effectively throughout the match, retreated to the baseline as the match reached its critical phase. Cobolli took full advantage, breaking Shelton's serve again and serving out the match with an ace.Cobolli's victory sets up a quarterfinal clash with Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko, who advanced via walkover. Shelton, meanwhile, will have to regroup and refocus his preparations for Roland Garros, which begins on May 28.

Novak Djokovic to Make Rare Pre-Grand Slam Appearance at Gonet Geneva OpenLast week's announcement of Andy Murray as a wild card for the Gonet Geneva Open has been followed by an even bigger coup for the ATP 250 event. On Friday, it was confirmed that world No. 1 Novak Djokovic will make his debut at the tournament, marking a rare appearance for the Serbian star in the week leading up to a Grand Slam.Djokovic's decision to play in Geneva is driven by his desire to gain match practice ahead of his Roland Garros title defense. The 24-time major champion has been searching for his first title of the year, with his best results being semifinal showings at the Australian Open and Monte Carlo.The Geneva Open will provide Djokovic with an opportunity to test his fitness after a head injury sustained in Rome. The incident, which occurred when a fan's metal water bottle slipped from a backpack, forced Djokovic to withdraw from his quarterfinal match against Alejandro Tabilo.Despite the setback, Djokovic has reportedly received the all-clear from doctors and is eager to return to action. With his 37th birthday approaching next Wednesday, the Serbian is determined to find his form before the French Open.Djokovic's entry into the Geneva draw has bumped 2022 champion Casper Ruud to the No. 2 seed. The Norwegian, who was defeated by Djokovic in last year's Roland Garros final, will be looking to avenge that loss.Americans Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton are expected to be seeded third and fourth, respectively. Defending champion Nicolas Jarry has withdrawn to focus on his Masters 1000 semifinal clash with Tommy Paul in Rome.The Gonet Geneva Open will take place from May 14-21, providing a crucial warm-up event for players ahead of the second Grand Slam of the year.