Novak Djokovic made a successful return to competitors within the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday however was made to work by his 198th-ranked Russian opponent as two-time defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas superior when his rival retired injured.
Djokovic is again on courtroom after failing to get a waiver to enter the United States for final month’s Indian Wells event and Miami Open attributable to his anti-Covid vaccination stance.
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The world primary was at risk of shedding the opening set in opposition to Russian qualifier Ivan Gakhov earlier than easing by way of 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 in 1hr 47min.
“I had by no means seen him play earlier than at the moment, and it’s at all times tough to face an opponent you don’t know,” said the Serbian, a winner on clay in Monte Carlo in 2013 and 2015.
Favourite for a third crown in the Principality in the absence of Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic will face either 21st-ranked Lorenzo Musetti or Luca Nardi, 159th, both Italian, for a place in the quarter-finals.
Tsitsipas advanced to the third round after Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi retired with a left wrist issue after just 22 minutes, trailing the Greek 4-1 in the first set.
World number three Tsitsipas next meets either Chilean Nicolas Jarry, ranked 58, or Australian Alexei Popyrin, 94th, for a place in the quarter-finals.
Ugly tennis
Djokovic is tuning up for a 23rd Grand Slam bid at the French Open. But the game was not as easy as expected with Gakhov taking the first break to lead 4-3.
Djokovic broke back immediately, but could not prevent the tie-break which he wrapped up on his first set point.
The second set was one-sided even though Gakhov hung on until the end.
“It was probably, if you can call it this way, an ugly tennis win for me today,” mentioned Djokovic, who’s on the lookout for a record-extending thirty ninth ATP Masters title this week.
“I haven’t performed my finest, significantly within the first set. And I sort of anticipated that that was going to occur in a method with swirly situations, lots of wind at the moment, altering instructions.
“It’s totally different practising after which taking part in an official match on clay.
“But all in all, I’m simply happy with the best way I held my nerves I believe within the necessary moments and I managed to clinch the two-set win.”
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Rublev, Zverev survive
Earlier Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev both survived dropping a set, but last year’s runner-up Alejandro Davidovich Fokina fell at the first hurdle.
Fifth-seeded Rublev, recipient of a first-round bye, rallied to beat Spaniard Jaume Munar 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in their second-round tie.
German Zverev made a hesitant begin to his clay-court season earlier than seeing off Kazakh Alexander Bublik 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 within the first spherical.
“The feeling was, ‘No way, I might be out in the first round of Monaco’,” mentioned Rublev, 25, who will face fellow Russian Khachanov, Dan Evans or qualifier Ilya Ivashka within the third spherical.
Zverev was again on clay for the primary time since he retired within the French Open semi-finals final yr in opposition to Rafael Nadal with an ankle damage.
The Thirteenth-seeded German took slightly below two hours to maneuver previous Bublik.
“It felt terrible at occasions to be sincere,” Zverev said.
“It usually takes me five or 10 minutes to get used to a clay court, but this year was a bit different. I needed to get the injury out of my head. I needed to get used to sliding again.”
Zverev, a two-time Monte Carlo semi-finalist, will subsequent play Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut for a spot within the third spherical.
Spaniard Davidovich Fokina fell 6-2, 6-2 to ninth seed Karen Khachanov.
Khachanov took 75 minutes to brush previous Davidovich Fokina, who misplaced the ultimate final yr to Tsitsipas.
Italian Lorenzo Sonego saved 4 match factors to beat French qualifier Ugo Humbert 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 and performs third seed Daniil Medvedev within the second spherical.
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