Novak Djokovic won his 101st career title in a dramatic three‑hour final at the Hellenic Championship in Athens. The 38‑year‑old Serbian beat his Italian rival Lorenzo Musetti 4‑6, 6‑3, 7‑5, capturing the tournament’s hard‑court crown and tightening the gap to fellow record‑holder Roger Federer.
The match kept fans on the edge of their seats. Musetti fought hard, but Djokovic broke his serve five times in the deciding set after 13 break points. Both men pushed themselves to the limit, especially in the final set where Musetti faced a string of tough challenges. The loss marks Musetti’s sixth straight defeat in an ATP final, the first of his two titles coming back‑to‑back in 2022 at Hamburg and Naples.
Djokovic thanked Greek fans in an Instagram post, calling the win “special” and saying his family loved the country’s support. He praised Musetti’s play, calling it an “epic battle” and encouraged him to keep aiming high.
The title also lifted Djokovic’s hard‑court tally to 72 tour‑level wins, closing in on Federer’s Open Era record. Musetti was hoping for the win to jump ahead of Felix Auger‑Aliassime and secure a spot at the season‑ending Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. Since Djokovic withdrew from the event with an injury, Musetti will take his place and play in the finale for the first time.
Djokovic said in a statement that he was “sad to withdraw” and thanked fans for their support. He looks forward to returning to the court soon.
Source: ianslive
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
