Novak Djokovic’s French Open preparations hit a snag as he fell to a surprise defeat in the Geneva Open semi-finals.
The world number one was outplayed by Czech underdog Tomas Machac, ranked 44th in the world, by a score of 6-4 0-6 6-1.
This loss extends Djokovic’s wait for a tournament title in 2024. He’ll head into the French Open, which starts this Sunday at Roland Garros, lacking match sharpness and momentum.
Djokovic, a record-holding 24-time Grand Slam champion, entered the Geneva Open hoping to gain confidence on clay after a turbulent season so far.
Following a semi-final exit to Jannik Sinner in Australia, he was ousted early in Indian Wells. While he managed a semi-final showing in Monte Carlo, his next tournament in Rome was marred by a bizarre incident where he was struck in the head by a water bottle, leading to a loss against a lower-ranked opponent.
Despite winning his opening matches in Geneva, Djokovic again struggled against Machac, even showing signs of physical limitations during the lopsided final set.
He’ll begin his quest for a historic fourth French Open title on either Monday or Tuesday, facing French wildcard Pierre Hugues-Herbert.
