Djokovic Climbs to Athens Final, Chasing a Historic 101st Title

Djokovic Reaches Athens Final, Chasing a Century-Title Milestone

Novak Djokovic, world No. 5, booked his third final of the season at the Athens Open (250 points) after defeating German Yannick Hanfmann 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinal on Friday.

He will meet in the final either Sebastian Korda (No. 52) or Lorenzo Musetti (No. 9), who must win the title to secure a berth at the ATP Finals in Turin (Nov. 9-16).

The 38-year-old Djokovic is chasing his 101st career title, a milestone that would place him just behind Roger Federer (103) and Jimmy Connors (109) in the all-time Open Era tally.

Djokovic also extends his standout season in the Grand Slams, continuing to feature prominently in the majors, and is headed toward the ATP Finals in Turin alongside Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, and Alex de Minaur.

Djokovic has already captured the year’s biggest indoor trophy in Geneva, further cementing his status as one of the era’s most durable players. He has reached the year-end finals eight times in a row since his first appearance in 2007, missing only in 2017 due to injury.

In the Athens semifinal, Djokovic fought off a late push from Hanfmann, breaking serve at 3-2 in the first set after failing to convert an earlier break opportunity, then closing out 6-3. In the second, he faced a brief 1-2 deficit but regrouped to break at 3-3 and again at 4-3 to clinch the win in 1 hour and 18 minutes.

Should he win the final, Djokovic would sit two titles shy of Federer’s 103 and eight behind Connors’ 109. The win would also add another chapter to a season already marked by longevity and consistency across the ATP Tour.

Earlier in the event, Djokovic had snapped a string of semifinals losses this year at major stops including Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the US Open, and Shanghai Masters, turning the semifinal victory into a statement of continued dominance.

Djokovic advanced to the semifinal by a strong display against Nuno Borges 7-6 (7-1), 6-4, marking his 200th indoor win and underscoring his mastery of the arena game. The Serbian star is set to compete in Athens while his year-end qualification to Turin is already secured, joining the likes of Alcaraz, Fritz, and De Minaur for the Nitto ATP Finals.

In a broader context, Djokovic’s chase for a 101st title is framed by his historic Open Era standing, and his ongoing attempt to keep pace with the sport’s all-time greats. The next challenge awaits in the Greek capital as he eyes another trophy to add to a calendar already rich with laurels.

Six Kings Slam note

Djokovic also faced a setback outside the Athens event, withdrawing from the third-place playoff at the Riyadh Six Kings Slam after dropping the opening set in a tiebreak (7-6). He apologized to fans, saying he would return next year if his body allowed it. Taylor Fritz offered a candid assessment of the conditions, calling the pace slow and difficult for executing decisive shots.

With the Turin finals on the horizon and his eyes set on 101 titles, Djokovic continues to redefine what it means to age gracefully in professional tennis. Even if the math is stubborn, his game remains stubbornly excellent.

Bang—Djokovic treats history like a moving target, and his racquet is the scope.

Bang again—if patience were a weapon, Djokovic would be a one-man army, and the battlefield would be a tennis court.