There will be no duel with a nostalgic flavor between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray on the clay court of Geneva: the British veteran was beaten on Tuesday in the first round of the Swiss open (ATP 250) by the German Yannick Hanfmann 7-5, 6-2.
Winner of a match that began on Monday, interrupted by the storm at 7-5, 4-1 and which he concluded in ten minutes on Tuesday, Hanfmann, 85th in the world, will face the Serbian world No. 1, guest, in the second round. last minute of the Geneva tournament one week before Roland-Garros where he will defend his title.
Returning to competition after an ankle injury in Miami in March, Andy Murray, 37, three-time Grand Slam winner, former world number one and now No.75, benefited from an invitation to Geneva.
The tournament schedule gave hope for a gala performance in the second round between Djokovic and Murray, members with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer of the legendary “big four” who have dominated world tennis for years.
Murray and Djokovic last faced each other in 2017 in the final of the Doha tournament, which the Serb won. Murray won the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016, playing in a total of eleven Grand Slam finals. He also won the Olympic singles titles in 2012 and 2016.
The Scot, who plays with a hip replacement, has repeatedly said he is unlikely to continue competing beyond the next few months.
The Geneva tournament serves as a dress rehearsal before the Roland-Garros fortnight (May 26-June 9). Several members of the top 20 are there, including the Norwegian Casper Ruud (N.7) and the Americans Taylor Fritz (N.12) and Ben Shelton (N.15).
Out of form, Novak Djokovic, who holds the record of 24 Grand Slam titles, decided to line up at the last moment. He has not reached a final on the tour again in 2024, his best performance being a semi-final at the Australian Open and the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo. In Geneva, he will try to win his 99th title on the circuit.