Novak Djokovic Cruises to Monte Carlo Masters 3rd Round
Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked Serbian tennis sensation, demonstrated his mastery on clay courts during the Monte Carlo Masters by securing a swift victory against Roman Safiullin with a score of 6-1, 6-2 in the second round.
This marked Djokovic‘s return to clay after his triumph at the French Open last year, where he clinched a record-breaking 23rd major title.
When Safiullin’s return dropped into the net on his second match point, Djokovic triumphed by serving for the match. Ultimately, Djokovic could have done a better job of finishing because he only converted five of the 19 break points he forced.
Having won the French Open the previous year to secure a record-tying 23rd major title for men, it was the top-ranked Serb’s first clay-court competition. He added the U.S. Open to bring his total to 24, but this year at the Australian Open, he lost in the semifinals to Jannik Sinner, who went on to win, and he is now chasing his first championship of 2024.
Goran Ivanisevic, Djokovic’s coach, and the player recently parted ways, capping a relationship that spanned from 2018 through half of those major championships.
Djokovic quickly took a 4-0 lead at the Monte Carlo Country Club thanks to two service breaks, but Safiullin eventually held serve in overcast conditions. With his second serve at 0-40, Djokovic’s drop shot appeared to be in order, and he quickly won the opening set in thirty-three minutes.
Djokovic’s next opponent is either Italian Lorenzo Musetti or Frenchman Arthur Fils. Although it hasn’t happened since 2015, Djokovic is aiming to win Monte Carlo for the third time. Since then, he has not advanced past the quarterfinals, where he may meet Andrey Rublev, the reigning champion.
Carlos Alcaraz had already pulled out due to a right forearm muscle issue. Rafael Nadal, the 11-time champion, withdrew from the competition last week due to an injury.
ranked fifth After Alexander Zverev of Germany defeated Sebastian Ofner of Austria 6-3, 6-4, he advanced to the third round to face Djokovic. The 2022 French Open semifinalist will play either Tomas Martin Etcheverry or two-time Monte Carlo champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is ranked 12th. On Wednesday, they play.
Australia’s No. 11 Alex de Minaur and Poland’s No. 10 Hubert Hurkacz prevailed in their remaining first-round matches.
Hurkacz struggled past Jack Draper of Britain 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (2), while De Minaur easily defeated 2014 winner Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 6-0, breaking the three-time Grand Slam champion’s serve six times.
Zhang Zhizhen, Miomir Kecmanovic, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Sebastian Korda also made it to the second round.
On Wednesday, the second-ranked Sinner takes on Korda. In 2024, Sinner is 22-1 and has won three tournaments, most recently at the Miami Open.
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