Monaco Novak Djokovic made light work of his return to clay and did not face a break point to beat Roman Safiulin 6-1, 6-2 to reach the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday.
Serving for the match, Djokovic won his second match point when Saffiuling's return went into the net. Overall, Djokovic perhaps could have been a little more clinical, as he took 19 break points and converted only five of them.
It was the top-ranked Serb's first clay-court tournament since winning a record men's 23rd major title by winning the French Open last year. He added a th US Open to increase that number to 24, but lost to eventual winner Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals of the Australian Open this year, and is looking for his first title of 2024.Djokovic recently split from coach Goran Ivanisevic, ending their relationship that began in 2018 – and it involved half of those major titles.
In overcast conditions at the Monte Carlo Country Club, Djokovic grabbed two service breaks to lead 4–0 in quick time, before Safiulin eventually held serve.
Djokovic's drop shot looked to be in good order and he won the first set in 3 minutes when Safiulin hit a return into the net on his second serve at 0-40.
Djokovic will next face Frenchman Arthur Fils or Lorenzo Musetti.
Djokovic is looking to win Monte Carlo for the third time, but has failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals for the first time since 2015, and could face defending champion Andrey Rublev in the quarters.Shortly before Djokovic arrived on Center Court, his opponent Carlos Alcaraz withdrew due to a muscle injury in his right forearm. Last week, record 11-time winner Rafael Nadal withdrew from the tournament due to injury.
Later on Tuesday, fifth-seeded German Alexander Zverev faces Austria's Sebastian Ofner in the second round.
In the remaining matches of the first round, No. 10 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland and No. 11 Alex de Minaur of Australia won.
De Minaur defeated 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka 6–3, 6–0 and broke the three-time Grand Slam winner six times, while Hurkacz beat Britain's Jack Draper 6–4, 3–6, 7–1. Defeated by 6(2).Sebastian Korda, Roberto Bautista Agut, Miomir Kecmanovic and Zhang Zhizhen also advanced to the second round.
Second-ranked Sinner will face Korda on Wednesday. Sinner is 22-1 with three titles in 2024, including most recently the Miami Open.
Serving for the match, Djokovic won his second match point when Saffiuling's return went into the net. Overall, Djokovic perhaps could have been a little more clinical, as he took 19 break points and converted only five of them.
It was the top-ranked Serb's first clay-court tournament since winning a record men's 23rd major title by winning the French Open last year. He added a th US Open to increase that number to 24, but lost to eventual winner Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals of the Australian Open this year, and is looking for his first title of 2024.Djokovic recently split from coach Goran Ivanisevic, ending their relationship that began in 2018 – and it involved half of those major titles.
In overcast conditions at the Monte Carlo Country Club, Djokovic grabbed two service breaks to lead 4–0 in quick time, before Safiulin eventually held serve.
Djokovic's drop shot looked to be in good order and he won the first set in 3 minutes when Safiulin hit a return into the net on his second serve at 0-40.
Djokovic will next face Frenchman Arthur Fils or Lorenzo Musetti.
Djokovic is looking to win Monte Carlo for the third time, but has failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals for the first time since 2015, and could face defending champion Andrey Rublev in the quarters.Shortly before Djokovic arrived on Center Court, his opponent Carlos Alcaraz withdrew due to a muscle injury in his right forearm. Last week, record 11-time winner Rafael Nadal withdrew from the tournament due to injury.
Later on Tuesday, fifth-seeded German Alexander Zverev faces Austria's Sebastian Ofner in the second round.
In the remaining matches of the first round, No. 10 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland and No. 11 Alex de Minaur of Australia won.
De Minaur defeated 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka 6–3, 6–0 and broke the three-time Grand Slam winner six times, while Hurkacz beat Britain's Jack Draper 6–4, 3–6, 7–1. Defeated by 6(2).Sebastian Korda, Roberto Bautista Agut, Miomir Kecmanovic and Zhang Zhizhen also advanced to the second round.
Second-ranked Sinner will face Korda on Wednesday. Sinner is 22-1 with three titles in 2024, including most recently the Miami Open.
