Novak Djokovic wins 100th ATP title after thrilling comeback in Geneva
Novak Djokovic claimed his 100th tour-level trophy on Saturday at the Gonet Geneva Open, battling past Hubert Hurkacz in a dramatic final. The Serbian star came from behind to win 5-7, 7-6(2), 7-6(2) in what turned out to be the longest match of the tournament, lasting three hours and five minutes, as per the ATP Tour. “I had to work for it, that’s for sure. Hubi was probably closer to victory in the entire match than I was,” Djokovic said, as quoted from ATP Tour. “I had some chances in the first set to break his serve, then had a bad game which ended up with the double fault on set point,” he added. “I was just trying to hang in there, I don’t know how I broke his serve. He probably broke himself in the third, when he was 4-3 up, but this is what happens at the highest level. Very few points decide the winner. Incredible match, 7-6 in the third with a full stadium and, a beautiful atmosphere. I’m just grateful to clinch the 100th here,” he noted. Djokovic trailed 2-4 in the final set but dug deep to turn the match around, showing the resilience he is known for. This win makes him only the third man in the Open Era to reach 100 tour-level trophies, joining legends Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103). His first title came back in 2006 when he beat Hurkacz’s current coach, Nicolas Massu. It’s also Djokovic’s first title since his gold medal win at the Paris Olympics last year. With this win, he becomes the first man in the Open Era to win a title in 20 different seasons. At 38, he is also now the oldest player to win the Geneva tournament.
Beleaguered MDSP finds motivation from their women’s cricket team’s T-20 title!
Sudeep Pakrashi: Amidst the ongoing misery the club has been passing through after a huge financial set-back with the men’s football team, Mohammedan Sporting top brass found a motivation from their women’s cricket team’s T-20 title on Friday. Mohammedan Sporting Club clinched the CAB Women’s Club Cricket League T20 title after a thumping 46-run victory over Aryan Club via a higher run rate in the summit clash at the Eden Gardens on Friday. When asked for his reaction to the issue, the club’s vice president, Qamaruddin, commented, “Amidst the ongoing crisis, it has been undoubtedly an inspiring success. I believe our financial crisis will also be solved soon, and the football affairs will also bounce back soon.” It has been the fourth consecutive CAB women’s T-20 title for the women’s cricket team. The coach Azhar Baba can be called an ‘unsung hero’ for building the team. The 30-year-old coach who still plays for Calcutta Port Trust boasts of the support he got from the club. “I should thank the club’s president, Kamaruddin, the vice-president, and other senior officials including Nasim Bhai who now looks after the club’s cricket affairs, and Belal Ahmed for their utmost support.” Significantly, at a time when the club’s footballers have bbeen deprived of their salaries, the women cricketers already obtained their salaries acording to contracts. The budget is nearly Rs 15 lakh to run the women’s team and the officials deserve the credit to arrange the needed amount, donating from own pockets. Even, they were given prizes also for winning the T-20 league at a function organized by the club on Sunday. Azhar who has been coaching the women cricketers for the last four years and is also in charge of the club’s women’s cricket development program also feels proud of two more achievements the women’s cricket development program has earned. “Four of our women cricketers took part in the recently concluded-WPL for different teams. Secondly, the greater number of young, promising girls from the Muslim community are coming to our training center to learn the game and become a professional cricketer in the future, “Azhar concluded.
