Casper Ruud needed less than 48 hours to shrug off his Rome finals loss to Jannik Sinner, with the Norwegian starting strong at the ATP Geneva event with a 6-3, 7-5 opening win over Jenson Brooksby on Tuesday.

The three-time champion in the Swiss border metropolis advanced at the pre-Roland Garros tune-up with 21 winners.

Ruud won the title here in 2021, 2022 and 2024.

“This stretch of tournaments is quite a lot but they are nice tournaments and I like playing here,” the winner said.

“I like playing on clay. I try to use the clay season the most I can and every time I come to Geneva I have a good result at Roland Garros, so let’s hope to keep that tradition going.” 

The Scandinavian owns two Roland Garros finals, losing to Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in Paris..

Novak Djokovic is aiming to keep his top form for a few more seasons, with the Serb dreaming of a career finale at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The former world No. 1 Serb who will start his 2026 season in Adelaide prior to the January 18 start of the Australian Open, told a sports conference in Dubai of his master plan.

“I do want to keep on going,” the 38-year-old said. “I’ve said LA Olympics, 2028, is kind of a guiding star, but honestly, there’s no limit. So let’s see…

“I just keep going. I love hitting the tennis ball, and I love competing. I was saying to the guys that I was talking to, the greats in football, that it’s really about passion and love.

“As long as you really feel like you’re playing on a high level and your body holds on, why not?”

The winner of 24 Grand Slam singles titles has not owned a major in two years (2023 US Open) and notched trophies last season at 250 events in Geneva and Athens.

In a Tour now dominated by young guns Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the veteran is having his troubles in keeping up.

He managed semi-finals of all four Slams in 2025 and claimed a 100th career title with his Geneva success last May, one of only 13 events he played last season.

After a spell in the wilderness and a 10-month title drought, Novak Djokovic has regained his winning will at the French Open.

The 38-year-old who claimed his 100th career Tour title last month in Geneva, is carrying his success forward with a place in the Roland Garros semi-finals and a Friday date against Jannik Sinner. 

Djokovic is emerging smoothly from the cycle of doubt which left him scratching for form and motivation during the run-up to Paris; he skipped both the Madrid and Rome Masters but found some hope with a statement title in Geneva.

Now, the 24-time grand Slam winner is in the thick of the title scramble.

“If you look at the results I’ve had this year.. multiple first match losses at the big Masters tournaments.

“That wasn’t a great feeling, it’s something I haven’t experienced for many of the 20 years I’ve been playing. 

“I have to find a to bounce back at the Grand Slams.

Djokovic demonstrated his survival skills in the quarter-finals, defeating Alexander Zverev over three hours and five match points to set up a showdown with Sinner, winner of their last three meetings.

“Now, it’s all about Grand Slams for me, trying to raise the level and play my best tennis at these four tournaments,” three-time Roland Garros champion Djokovic said.

“I think the win against (Carlos) Alcaraz in quarters of the Australian Open, to win quarters against Zverev proves that I can still play on the highest level,and I just thrive on these occasions.”

He added: “This is where I lock in and really give my best. I just hope that I will be able to physically keep up with Sinner.

“It’s a big challenge and it’s only going to get tougher. But it’s how it’s
supposed to be at the highest Grand Slam level.”

The veteran is preparing for a huge battle against Italy’s ATP No. 1 and winner of the last two Grand Slams in New York and Melbourne.

“He’s going to come out and play on a very high level, as he did basically every tournament that he played in the last year and a half. 

“I don’t expect anything less from him,” Djokovic said.