Novak Djokovic reaches Geneva Open final with 100th title in sight

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REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action during his semi final match against Britain's Cameron Norrie.

PHOTO: REUTERS

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GENEVA, Switzerland – Novak Djokovic moved to the brink of his 100th tour-level title after recovering from a second-set blip to beat British qualifier Cameron Norrie 6-4 6-7(6) 6-1 in the Geneva Open semi-finals on May 23.

Victory in May 24’s final against Polish sixth seed Hubert Hurkacz would be the perfect end to the record 24-times Grand Slam champion’s preparations for the French Open starting on May 25. Djokovic holds a commanding 7-0 career win-loss record over Hurkacz.

Djokovic, who turned 38 on May 22, unleashed 11 aces and 34 winners in a match against Norrie lasting two hours and 15 minutes.

After two tightly-fought sets, Djokovic was ruthless in the decider as he raced into a 3-0 lead before former world number eight Norrie got on the board.

Djokovic won the next three games, however, to reach his 143rd ATP Final.

"It was the toughest match of the tournament for me so far, three sets," Djokovic said.

"(In) the second set, he was a break up and I managed to come back to the tiebreak... But I'm really glad how I regrouped in the third and played the best set of the tournament."

Ranked world number six, Djokovic is bidding for a fourth Roland Garros title but has struggled for form since his run to the Australian Open semi-finals in January, when he retired injured.

Britain’s Cameron Norrie in action during his semi final match against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic.

PHOTO: REUTERS

It will be the Serbian's second final this year after the Miami Open, where he lost to Czech teenager Jakub Mensik. REUTERS

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