Winner in 20 seasons

The Serb won with an ace down the middle, completing a surge to victory after breaking Hurkacz's serve for the first time while trailing 4-3 in the deciding set. Djokovic took that break-point chance with a forehand cross-court winner, advancing to the net on Hurkacz's sliced half-volley.

"Hubert was probably closer to the victory the entire match than I was," Djokovic said. "I don't know how I broke his serve."

He is the first man in the Open era to win a title in 20 different seasons.

Djokovic's 100th singles title came nearly 19 years after his first in July 2006. That was also on clay, at Amersfoort in the Netherlands, against Nicolas Massu — the Chilean who now coaches Hurkacz.

"It's really inspiring how you present yourself on the court, off the court. It's just really incredible what you have achieved," Hurkacz said to Djokovic during the on-court trophy presentation.

Djokovic collected his trophy in front of three golden balloons tethered to the court spelling out 1-0-0.

Geneva desperate

Since his Olympic title, he had lost finals at the Shanghai Masters to Jannik Sinner last year, and the Miami Masters to Jakub Mensik in March.

Djokovic got much more than the match practice he came to Geneva for. Throughout April, he had fallen to quick exits from the previous tournaments he entered during the European clay-court season, at Monte Carlo and Madrid.

Djokovic had break-point chances early in the first two sets and did not take them. At 2-2 in the first set, Hurkacz saved the second of back-to-back chances with a powerful service winner.

Hurkacz clinched the first set with his only break-point chance when Djokovic double-faulted.

In the opening game of the second set, Hurkacz saved Djokovic's next chance with an overhead winner at the net. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic dominated to force the decider.

Hurkacz immediately broke serve again to lead the third set. He got the chance when a low bouncing ball dived under Djokovic's racket, and took it when the second-seeded Serb sent a forehand too long.

Agencies