GENEVA, May 23, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Novak Djokovic celebrated his 37th
birthday on Wednesday with the 1,100th win of his career as he gears up for
his French Open title defence, progressing to the Geneva quarter-finals.

The world number one downed Germany's Yannick Hanfmann 6-3, 6-3 in the second
round at the Parc des Eaux-Vives grounds.

Djokovic becomes only the third man after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer to
reach the 1,100-win landmark.

Djokovic took a wild card to play in Geneva in a bid to rescue an alarming
dip in form ahead of next week's French Open, the second Grand Slam of the
year.

His record this year is now 13 wins and five defeats, and he has yet to reach
a tournament final in 2024.

After beating Hanfmann, the crowd sang "Happy Birthday" to Djokovic as a cake
with candles was brought out onto the court.

He lifted the cake and showed it off to the crowd, having a nibble before
offering some to the ball boys and girls.

"The key was the birthday. My birthday probably wouldn't be the same if I
didn't win the match," the Serb said.

"It's nice to be here for the first time in this tournament and to have my
family here coming to support as well. I grew up with my aunt and my uncle
and my two cousins for most of my life," he said, referring to his relatives
who now live in Geneva.

"We don't get a chance to see each other that much lately so it's really
nice. I'm getting some really quality time on the court but also off the
court.

"Thank-you so much for singing the 'Happy Birthday' song. That really touched
me so I'm very happy to win on this special day."

- Ruud into last-eight -

In a match interrupted by rain, Djokovic was 3-0 down in the second set but
rallied to close out the contest.

Djokovic was striking the ball cleanly and consistently from the baseline and
throwing in occasional drop shots.

Djokovic will face either Denis Shapovalov or Tallon Griekspor in Thursday's
quarter-finals.

Meanwhile second seed Casper Ruud, who won the Geneva title in 2021 and 2022,
booked his spot in the quarter-finals with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Austrian
qualifier Sebastian Ofner.

It was Ruud's 32nd tour-level win of the season. No player has earned more
victories in 2024.

The Norwegian world number seven -- who was beaten by Djokovic in last year's
French Open final -- will next face Argentinian fifth seed Sebastian Baez.

The Czech Republic's Tomas Machac will face Alex Michelsen in the last eight
after the American knocked out his third-seeded compatriot Taylor Fritz 6-4,
4-6, 7-5.

Michelsen, 19, only claimed his first tour-level clay-court win last month.

Thursday's other quarter-final will feature Alexandr Shevchenko against
Flavio Cobolli, who knocked out US fourth seed Ben Shelton.