Novak Djokovic takes late wild card to Geneva Open in bid for more clay action before Roland Garros
Andy Murray also has a wild card and will play Djokovic in the second round if he gets past Yannick Hanfmann in the in his first match.
GENEVA (AP) — Novak Djokovic is a surprise entry for the Geneva Open, the last men's warmup for Roland Garros, and could open against his old friend and rival Andy Murray.
The top-ranked Djokovic got the last wild card on Friday, Geneva organizers said. The main draw starts on Sunday.
Murray also has a wild card and will play Djokovic in the second round if he gets past Yannick Hanfmann in the first round that was drawn on Friday.
Djokovic has a 25-11 career record against Murray—including 5-2 in Grand Slam finals—though they have not faced each other in a tour match for more than seven years. Djokovic won a three-set final in Doha in February 2017.
Their next meeting could be on Djokovic's 37th birthday on Wednesday in his first tournament match in Switzerland since 2011.
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An unexpected loss last Sunday to 32nd-ranked Alejandro Tabilo in the third round of the Italian Open has left Djokovic looking for more games on clay before defending his title at Roland Garros.
He has a men's record 24 Grand Slam singles titles. Roland Garros starts on May 26.
Djokovic's other clay event this season at Monte Carlo ended in a loss to Casper Ruud in the semifinals. The seventh-ranked Ruud will seek a third Geneva title after wins in 2021 and '22.
Djokovic last played a tournament in Switzerland in October 2011, losing in Basel to Kei Nishikori in the semifinals of Roger Federer's hometown event. Djokovic had beaten Federer in the two previous Basel finals.