Djokovic, Wins In Clay Debut, Tsitsipas Gets Retirement; Wawrinka-Fritz Wed. At Monte Carlo Masters
It was a perfect day for former champions and seeds Tuesday at the Monte Carlo Masters. Seeds finished 7-0 led by Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who both made their 2023 clay debuts.
Djokovic, a 2-time Monte Carlo winners, advanced past qualifier Ivan Gakhov 7-6(7-5), 6-2.
Djokovic did drop serve going down early 4-3 but immediately got back to level, then took the breaker and rolled in the second. The World No. 1 lost just six points on serve in the second.
“It was probably, if you can call it this way, an ugly tennis win for me today,” Djokovic said to the crowd. “I haven’t played my best, particularly in the first set. And I kind of expected that that was going to happen in a way with swirly conditions, a lot of wind today, changing directions.
“It’s different practicing and then playing an official match on clay, I guess no two bounces are the same. It’s always quite unpredictable what’s going to happen. But all in all, I’m just pleased with the way I held my nerves I think in the important moments and I managed to clinch the two-set win.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas opened his title defense with win as Benjamin Bonzi retired down 4-1 due to wrist injury.
“A great start out there. A 3-0 lead, I will always take it,” Tsitsipas told the ATP. “Happy to be back on the terre bateau of Monte-Carlo. It’s a very unique location during the year and I’m happy this is the time of the year we get to play on these courts. It brings back very good memories.
“It’s very unfortunate what happened out there for my opponent. I wish him the best moving forward.”
Also, No. 5 seed and former runner-up Andrey Rublev bested Spain’s Jaume Munar in three sets 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. Ninth-seeded Karen Khachanov rolled by former finalist Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-2, 6-2.
No. 10 seed Hubert Hurkacz won a thriller over (21y,56r) Jack Draper 6-3, 6-7(3-7), 7-5. No. 13 Alexander Zverev sent off Alexander Bublik 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. No. 16 Lorenzo Musetti got over on (23y,34r) Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6(7-1), 6-0 and Grigor Dimitrov got the better of 20-year-old Ben Shelton in three 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
Looking at Wednesday, matches include in second round play highlighted by No. 3 Daniil Medvedev who takes on Lorenzo Sonego. Medvedev leads Sonego 1-0 in their tour-level encounters. Medvedev was the victor in their lone contest at Adelaide earlier this year.
No. 4 Casper Ruud battles Botic Van De Zandschulp, No. 6 Holger Rune meets Dominic Thiem, No. 7 Jannik Sinner faces Diego Schwartzman and No. 8 Taylor Fritz will meet Stan Wawrinka.
WEDNESDAY MONTE CARLO MASTERS
COURT RAINIER III
Matches Start At: 11:00 am
Botic VAN DE ZANDSCHULP (NED) vs Casper RUUD (NOR) [4]
Diego SCHWARTZMAN (ARG) vs Jannik SINNER (ITA) [7]
Daniil MEDVEDEV [3] vs [WC] Lorenzo SONEGO (ITA)
[WC] Dominic THIEM (AUT) vs Holger RUNE (DEN) [6]
COURT DES PRINCES
Matches Start At: 11:00 am
Roberto BAUTISTA AGUT (ESP) vs Alexander ZVEREV (GER) [13]
Grigor DIMITROV (BUL) vs Jiri LEHECKA (CZE)
Taylor FRITZ (USA) [8] vs [WC] Stan WAWRINKA (SUI)
Francisco CERUNDOLO (ARG) vs Matteo BERRETTINI (ITA)
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