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Why Novak Djokovic’s Geneva Wildcard Is a Smart Move

Originally posted on Total Apex Sports | By Fahad Hamid | Last updated May 12, 2025 1:13 PM ET

24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic is under a cloud going into this year’s Roland Garros. The Serbian has played two clay-court matches so far this year and hasn’t shown the kind of player who was pulling up trees every season. The former World No.1 has zero clay-court match wins and is a heavy underdog going into the French Open.

Now, he has taken a wildcard in the Geneva Open. The tournament starts one week before Garros starts. This is a week that the top-tier players usually take a break. However, Djokovic, who withdrew from the Italian Open last week, will be seen in action. So why could this move be fitting for him? We have shared three reasons for that.

1. Not The First Time

Djokovic will play in Geneva for the second consecutive season. Last season, he played in Switzerland but lost in the semifinals to Tomas Machac in three sets. Although he didn’t win the tournament, he gained enough matches to be competitive for the rest of the season. The decision was fundamental as the former World No.1 performed better in Garros, but a meniscus tear halted his French Open campaign.

Djokovic had to withdraw from his quarterfinal match against Casper Ruud, which would have been a repeat of the 2023 final. However, the form he showed at Garros proved fundamental eventually as he won the Olympic Gold medal at the Paris Olympics later this year. If he wants to show that form once again, he needs to go back to the decision that he took last year. Considering he had skipped the Italian Open this year, this decision held even more importance.

2. Match Fitness

Djokovic doesn’t have matches in his legs at the moment. The Serb has only played two clay court matches in 2025, and both have been losses. The first match came in the opening round of the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters , where he lost to Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets. The second match against Matteo Arnaldi at the Madrid Open also resulted in a straight-set defeat.

With two losses and zero wins, Djokovic can’t afford to enter Garros. He has always maintained that he wants to excel in Grand Slam events. For that, he needs to maximize his match fitness, and Geneva provides that. He wants the 25th Grand Slam title badly, which will put him ahead of Margaret Court.

3. 100th ATP title

The 100th ATP title is something that Djokovic has been associated with for quite some time. Since winning the Olympic Gold medal in August, the Serb has come close to joining Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors in this club. However, he has lost the finals of the Shanghai Masters and the Miami Open. He also played in the Australian Open semifinals earlier this year but couldn’t resist more than a set due to a leg injury.

Getting to his 100th title in Geneva will relieve the pressure he will feel going into the Grand Slam events. He can be much more relaxed and focus on playing his best tennis. Usually, the best players need that one tournament to create momentum, and Geneva provides the Serb with an outstanding opportunity.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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