Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal start their clay courtroom seasons in Monte Carlo this week, seeded to meet in the ultimate which might probably be a costume rehearsal for one more title showdown at Roland Garros in June.
Djokovic and Nadal haven’t performed for the reason that delayed Australian Open in February the place the world primary Serb claimed his ninth Melbourne title and 18th profession main.
He has additionally since surpassed Roger Federer’s file for weeks at primary and will begin a 316th week on high of the world from Monday.
Djokovic is a two-time champion in Monte Carlo however has not bought past the quarter-finals since his most up-to-date title in 2015.
Nadal, who gained a thirteenth Roland Garros title and record-equalling twentieth Grand Slam by beating Djokovic in the Paris last in October, is chasing a twelfth triumph in Monte Carlo.
There are issues over the lingering again drawback Nadal is carrying forward of a gruelling clay courtroom season which peaks on the French Open from May 30.
Nadal has 71-5 file in Monte Carlo the place he has fallen in need of the quarter-finals simply as soon as — on his debut in 2003 as a 16-year-old.
Since the Australian Open, Nadal has been changed as world quantity two by Russia’s Daniil Medvedev.
The Australian Open runner-up was the primary participant outdoors the ‘Big Four’ of Djokovic, Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray to attain quantity two in the world since Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt in July 2005.
However, he’s cautious of his possibilities on clay.
His 10 profession titles have all come on laborious courts whereas he has by no means gained a match at Roland Garros in 4 visits.
“Maybe in 2050 I’ll manage to get past the first round at Roland Garros,” the mercurial Russian joked.
Missing from the Monte Carlo line-up is Roger Federer who final performed in the Principality in 2016 and has by no means gained the match.
Federer, who might be 40 in August, solely returned to the tour in Qatar in February after 13 months on the sidelines to recuperate from two knee surgical procedures.
The veteran Swiss plans to make his 2021 clay courtroom bow in Madrid in the primary week of May.
Also lacking is world quantity 4 Dominic Thiem who, like Djokovic, Nadal and Federer, skipped the Miami Masters lately as he was “not at 100%”.
The two-time runner-up to Nadal at Roland Garros opted as a substitute to keep in Austria to observe on clay.
The 2020 Monte Carlo Masters was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic whereas this yr’s occasion might be behind closed doorways.
Top seed Djokovic faces a troublesome begin in Monte Carlo.
After a gap spherical bye, he’ll face in-form teenager Jannik Sinner if the Italian will get previous Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
Nadal and Medvedev are in the other half of the draw.
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