The world No 1 Novak Djokovic made an emphatic begin at the Monte Carlo Masters with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Russia’s Roman Safiullin, easing into the third spherical at a rain-delayed day three on Tuesday.
Djokovic, who pulled out of the latest Miami Open to stability his schedule, regarded contemporary as he broke Safiullin’s serve thrice in the opening set, and an extra two breaks in the second was sufficient to seal the win. The Serbian, winner in 2013 and 2015, will meet the victor between France’s Arthur Fils and Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti who play their second spherical match afterward Tuesday. Musetti defeated Djokovic at the third-round stage final 12 months.
Hubert Hurkacz is into the second spherical with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2) win, but was made to battle by Britain’s Jack Draper after the Polish tenth seed regarded like dominating early on. Hurkacz raced right into a 3-0 lead in the primary set but Draper rallied to stage at 4-4, earlier than the Pole broke serve to take the opener. Draper then broke to like twice to win the second set and power the decider.
With Hurkacz serving at 5-4 to win the match, Draper broke serve but it was a relieved Hurkacz who emerged victorious in the tie-break. Hurkacz, who additionally beat Draper at final 12 months’s match, will face Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain in the second spherical.
Alex de Minaur had little hassle seeing off the problem of the previous champion Stan Wawrinka, profitable 6-3, 6-0 to progress to the second spherical. Wawrinka received the title in 2014, but a decade later the Swiss 39-year-old was no match for the Australian eleventh seed, who wanted solely 24 minutes to finish a bagel in the second set, and can face Tallon Griekspoor.
Sebastian Korda additionally eased into the second spherical with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, finalist in 2022, but will face a a lot stiffer check when he takes on the world No 2 Jannik Sinner in the subsequent spherical. “Obviously, he’s probably the best tennis player in the world right now,” Korda stated in advance of assembly the Australian Open champion. “He’s had an unbelievable season and it’s going to be our first meeting on the clay. I’m just going to try to go out there, try my best, and see what happens.”
Carlos Alcaraz, the third seed, has withdrawn from the match with an arm damage, and his second spherical place was taken by the fortunate loser Lorenzo Sonego, who will play Felix Auger-Aliassime. Alcaraz can also have an eye fixed on his preparation for the French Open, which begins on 20 May.
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“I have been working in Monte Carlo and trying to recover until the last minute from an injured pronator teres in my right arm, but it was not possible and I cannot play,” Alcaraz posted on social media. “I was really looking forward to playing. See you next year.”
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