Novak Djokovic is back in action on Thursday in Monte-Carlo. Djokovic will bid for a spot in the quarterfinals when he goes up against Juan Monaco.
Novak Djokovic and Juan Monaco will be going head-to-head for the seventh time in their careers when they do battle in round three of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Thursday afternoon.
Djokovic has won all six of their previous encounters, including one on clay. They most recently faced each other last year on the slow stuff in Rome, where the Serb prevailed 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. A Miami semifinal clash just a few months earlier went Djokovic’s way 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Monaco is slowly rounding to form as the season turns from hard courts to his preferred clay-court surface. The 20th-ranked Argentine had not won an ATP tournament match prior to Houston last week, but he reached the semifinals before losing to eventual champion John Isner in three sets. So far in Monte-Carlo, Monaco has taken out Martin Klizan and an in-form Ernests Gulbis.
Whereas Monaco dealt with physical problems at the start of this season, Djokovic is a bit of a question mark right now. The world No. 1 sustained an ankle injury earlier this month in Davis Cup, but he returned on Wednesday and overcame a slow start to beat Mikhail Youzhny 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. Djokovic is 22-2 for his 2013 campaign, which includes titles at the Australian Open and in Dubai.
The surface and the fact that his opponent may not be quite 100 percent will slightly benefit Monaco, but all signs point to Djokovic improving match by match and turning in a more consistent and convincing performance than the one against Youzhny.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
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