Djokovic survives Monte-Carlo opener, Tsitsipas sets up clash with Medvedev

Novak Djokovic began at the Monte-Carlo Masters with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber on Tuesday afternoon. It was and up-and-down performance from the top-seeded Serb–complete with one racket destruction–but he managed to survive his first clay-court match of 2019.

“In a way it’s good I got to spend two and a half hours on the court in my first match [of] the clay court season,” Djokovic said. “This surface is very demanding physically. Tactically, as well, you have to construct the point, be more patient, (and) put more spin into the ball…. I think from the positive side, it’s actually good that I got to have that much match play because I did play a lot of practice sets and so forth. But it’s just completely different when you are nervous and playing an official match.”

The world No. 1 did not play many matches in March, a he lost right away in Indian Wells–to Kohlschreiber, in fact–and then got upset by Roberto Bautista Agut in the Miami fourth round.

There would be no repeat for Kohlschreiber a couple of events later. The veteran German had plenty of chances on Tuesday, but he converted only four of 16 break-point opportunities and could not capitalize on terrible serving by Djokovic (eight double-faults).

“I had ups and downs and in a way felt a bit rusty on the court,” Djokovic admitted. “I had a tough opponent, of course. Philipp beat me in Indian Wells. It was a match that happened less than a month ago, so of course it was in the back of my mind a bit. I thought I should have maybe stepped in and played a bit more aggressive in the second set, but credit to him for mixing up the pace and playing well.

“I’ll take this win. Hopefully I can play slightly better in the next round, because if I want to go deep in the tournament I definitely have to up my game.”

Djokovic will go up against Taylor Fritz on Thursday for a place in the quarterfinals. Elsewhere in the top section of the bracket, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniiil Medvedev will battle for the other quarterfinal spot.

Medvedev has made mincemeat out of Joao Sousa and Radu Albot so far this week, while Tsitsipas opened with a straight-set defeat of Mikhail Kukushkin.

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