(Cincinnati) Novak Djokovic made a winning return to American soil on Wednesday, which he had not trodden for two years, by qualifying for the third round of the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati, where he will face in an enticing duel the ghost French Gaël Monfils.
“Nole”, who had not played in the United States since 2021 for lack of vaccination against COVID-19, dominated the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, forced to retire before the start of the second set due to pain in the back.
Before that, the Serbian legend had won the first leg 6-4, in 45 minutes of play. two in the world, while wishing his opponent a speedy recovery (“Hope he’ll be ready for the US Open in New York”).
The record holder for the number of Grand Slam victories (23) was also delighted with his reunion in the round of 16 with the Frenchman Gaël Monfils, 36 years old just like him.
“It will be a battle of veterans,” smiled Djokovic about this match against Monfils, ex World No. 6 whom he has always beaten in 18 confrontations so far.
“Gaël is an extraordinary man, I respect him and I really love him – he brings so much joy to the fans […]. He’s the most charismatic player we’ve had in the last two decades,” said the Serb.
The meeting between the two “seniors” will take place on Thursday at the end of the program.
To earn the right to challenge Novak Djokovic, whom he had faced for the first time on the main circuit at the United States Open in… 2005, Gaël Monfils had to chain another performance of choice: the Parisian indeed beat in two sets, 7-5 and 6-4, the Australian Alex De Minaur, 12th in the world and recent finalist of the Masters 1000 in Toronto.
One could fear for the physique of the “Monf”, who had felt a pain in a calf during his previous match against the Briton Cameron Norrie, won in three sets. But, against the Australian, in two hours, the Frenchman seemed calm, making 29 winning shots against only 14 for De Minaur. He did not give up his face-off once.
After a jump of 65 places linked to his journey to the quarter-finals in Toronto, Gaël Monfils, currently 211th at the ATP, is already guaranteed to win more than 50 at the end of this new Masters 1000!
The last to beat him, the Italian Jannik Sinner, however, lost to the Serbian Dusan Lajovic, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), just three days after winning his first Masters 1000, in Toronto.
Funny birthday, by the way, for the (now) 22-year-old Italian since it is his first defeat this season as soon as he enters the competition.
Lajovic, 33, the 66th player in the world, was exceptional in capitalizing on Sinner’s fatigue after his efforts last week in Canada.
It was also a disappointing day for No. 5 seed Casper Ruud of Norway, who lost 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to world No. 70 Australian Max Purcell. Just like for another Scandinavian, Holger Rune (N.6), forced to retire (back) against the American Mackenzie McDonald while the young Dane was trailing 6-4, 2-0.
The seeded N.3, Daniil Medvedev, for his part, started the tournament with a victory against the Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-2, whom he had already beaten in Toronto. The Russian will face in the next round the German Alexander Zverev (N.16), who dismissed the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka 7-5, 6-4.
The Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, 4th in the world, showered the hopes of Ben Shelton, beating the young American 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2).
As for another American, Tommy Paul, semi-finalist in Toronto, he will be the next opponent of the world No.1, the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, after beating the Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-1, 7-6 (7/4 ).
