Novak Djokovic will head to the French Open without a title in 2024 after the world No 1 was defeated 4-6 6-0 1-6 by Tomas Machac in the semi-finals of the Geneva Open.
The 44th-ranked Machac beat Djokovic in the last clay-court event to prepare for Roland Garros, which gets under way on Sunday.
Djokovic’s record in 2024 has dropped to 14-6 overall and 0-3 in semi-finals, including earlier this year at the Australian Open against Jannik Sinner.
Djokovic lost his second career match despite having won a set with a 6-0 scoreline
Paris Masters 2012 vs Sam Querrey (0-6 7-6 6-4)
Geneva 2024 vs Tomas Machac (6-4 0-6 6-1)
Machac took his first match-point chance which came on Djokovic’s serve and clinched victory when the top-ranked Serb pushed a backhand long.
Djokovic struggled physically at times and received a medical timeout at the end of the first set, which he had led 4-1 before fading.
He broke for a 3-1 lead and seemed in command, but his Czech opponent – who had pushed him hard in Dubai last year before losing – stepped on the gas to win five successive games.
The 37-year-old looked fresher in the second set and moved well, producing several superb forehand winners to level the match in style.
Djokovic won the opening game of the deciding set, but it was downhill after that as another surge from Machac proved unstoppable.
He warmly greeted Machac at the net, and smiled as he walked off court applauding the fans.
“I have no reaction right now, I just fought for every ball,” Machac said. “When you play against Novak, you just hope. You just try to play your best and see what it looks like.
“I am looking forward to playing in a final for the first time,” he added.
Machac will face either two-time Geneva champion Casper Ruud or Flavio Cobolli in Saturday’s final, live on Sky Sports Tennis.
The world No 1 now heads to Paris where he faces France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the first round.
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