Djokovic Secures First Clay Win Against Fucsovics in Geneva

GENEVA, Switzerland (AP) — Novak Djokovic achieved his first clay-court victory of the season on Wednesday, defeating Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics 6-2, 6-3 in the second round of the ATP 250 tournament. This win marks a positive turnaround for Djokovic, who faced challenges in his initial matches on clay this year.

Previously, Djokovic struggled, losing his opening matches at both the Monte-Carlo Masters and the Madrid Open. However, in his 75-minute match against Fucsovics, the former world No. 1 exhibited control with his powerful groundstrokes and effective serving, not facing a single break point.

“My first win this season on clay, obviously, it’s great to break the ice in a way,” Djokovic expressed during his on-court interview. He highlighted the difficulty of playing on clay, emphasizing the need for patience and stamina. “You always have to expect an extra ball, an extra shot,” he noted.

Djokovic’s upcoming match will be against Matteo Arnaldi, the Italian player who previously bested him in Madrid last month. Djokovic expressed his determination, saying, “I think it’s important to stay focused and improve my game. My serve was my strongest shot today, and I hope to maintain that level going forward.”

Arnaldi, who idolizes Djokovic, spoke on the significance of competing against the 24-time Grand Slam champion. “It was a victory just to play him,” he said after their previous encounter. The quarter-final match between Djokovic and Arnaldi is set for Thursday, May 22.

As Djokovic aims for his 100th career singles title this week, he remains hopeful that today’s success will boost his confidence heading into the remainder of the tournament.