As Alcaraz withdraws hurt in Monte Carlo, Djokovic says he’s feeling fine.
Alcaraz posted on social media, I can’t play since I’m working in Monte Carlo and trying to recover until the last minute from an injured pronator teres (muscle) in my right arm.
On April 9, 2024, during their round of 32 tennis match in the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory over Russia’s Roman Safiullin on the Rainier III court at the Monte Carlo Country Club. (Image courtesy of AFP/Valery Hache)
The top-seeded Novak Djokovic claimed he felt fantastic after he defeated Roman Safiullin in straight sets at the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday, following the withdrawal of third seed Carlos Alcaraz from the competition due to an injury.
Djokovic defeated the unseeded Russian 6-1, 6-2 on the main Rainier III court, displaying his imperious nature after earning a bye in the opening round.I was feeling fantastic, Djokovic remarked.
I believe that this was one of my best performances here in a long time.
The first major competition of the clay court season is in Monte Carlo. You know, I haven’t really been able to get off to a great and successful start during the past six or seven years. I’ve not been very successful in this event.
On April 9, 2024, during their round of 32 match in the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic hits a backhand return against.
Russia’s Roman Safiullin on the Rainier III court at the Monte Carlo Country Club. (Image courtesy of AFP/Valery Hache)
It took the Serbian only one hour and ten minutes to get back to winning ways in his first encounter since an unexpected early loss to Italian Luca Nardi at Indian Wells.
When he took the court in Monte Carlo, the 36-year-old broke Roger Federer’s record to become the oldest world no. 1 in ATP rankings history.
Saying it’s lovely, it’s great, the 24-time Grand Slam champion stated.The oldest doubles no. 1 in history, Rohan Bopanna, is the person I met yesterday.
He mentioned that our combined age was 80, but he makes up a larger portion of that total than I do. However, it’s enjoyable.
However, Djokovic showed no signs of feeling his age as he quickly built a 4-0 lead in the opening set by breaking Safiullin’s serve twice.
Following a commanding victory in which he broke his opponent’s serve five times, Djokovic will now play Lorenzo Musetti in the third round after the Italian defeated young French talent Arthur Fils 6-3, 7-5.
Alcaraz declared he was leaving Monte Carlo prior to Djokovic’s match, citing insufficient recovery from a right forearm injury.
Alcaraz posted on social media, I can’t play since I’m working in Monte Carlo and trying to recover until the last minute from an injured pronator teres (muscle) in my right arm.
The 20-year-old Spaniard was expected to go straight into the second round on Wednesday against Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime. His most recent encounter ended in a straight sets loss to Grigor Dimitrov in Miami last month.
Italian Lorenzo Sonego, who was drafted in as a lucky loser, will take his position in the draw.
After withdrawing from the competition the previous year and losing in three sets in his solitary match of the 2022 edition, the two-time Grand Slam winner was scheduled to make his second-ever appearance at Monte Carlo in the match against Auger-Aliassime.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina was defeated by American Sebastian Korda 6-1, 6-2 in the opening round earlier in the day. Korda is the man who lost that match in 2022.
Wawrinka gets dismissed by De Minaur
The day’s play was delayed by two and a half hours due to rain in the morning, but world no. 11 Alex de Minaur made up for it by defeating Stan Wawrinka in 62 minutes straight sets.
The 39-year-old wild card Wawrinka, who was originally ranked third in the world but is currently down to 79, was no match for the Australian in the opening round, losing 6-3, 6-0.
The three-time Grand Slam champion and 2014 Monte Carlo champion Stan Wawrinka committed 28 unforced errors compared to De Minaur’s 18 and only managed four winners against his opponent’s 12 total.
After spending about two and a half hours on the court, Hubert Hurkacz, the tenth seed, defeated Jack Draper of Britain to advance to the second round by winning 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2).
Miomir Kecmanovic ended Italian Matteo Berrettini’s Monte Carlo career with a 6-3, 6-1 victory, after Berrettini won his first title in two injury-plagued years in Marrakesh on Sunday.
Alexander Zverev, the fifth seed from Germany, defeated Sebastian Ofner 6-3, 6-4 to go to the third round.
Frenchman Gael Monfils defeated Australian Aleksandar Vukic 6-7 (7/9), 6-3, 7-5 after trailing by two breaks early in the third set.
