Mathieu WARNIER, Media365, published on Tuesday, May 03, 2022 at 7:38 p.m.
For his debut in the Masters 1000 in Madrid, world number 1 Novak Djokovic got the better of Gaël Monfils in two rounds.
Gaël Monfils could not hope to bring down Novak Djokovic. While the Serb has multiplied the underperformance since his return to competition with an entry elimination in Monte-Carlo then a final lost at home against Andrey Rublev, he did not miss his entry into the running in the Masters 1000 of Madrid against the Parisian. The first in action was Gaël Monfils who, in the third game, granted himself the first two break points. However, Novak Djokovic was able to repel them to keep his commitment. After an interruption to allow the roof of the Court Manolo-Santana to be closed, this situation happened again and still without success for the 21st player in the world. The world number 1, meanwhile, was much more surgical. Indeed, he only needed one opportunity to outrun the Habs. Managing to close the game, Novak Djokovic confirmed his ascendancy on the scoreboard on his first set point.
Monfils couldn’t do anything
The start of the second heat confirmed the impression that Gaël Monfils failed to seize his chance in the first. Indeed, if he easily held his service in the first game, the Parisian quickly gave in to the blows of the Serb, despite some good inspirations. Unable to put the number 1 seed in difficulty, Gaël Monfils saw his opponent be without the slightest ounce of pity. Indeed, on his third break point, Novak Djokovic took the service of the Habs for the third time and thus arrogated the right to serve to win the match. Combative until the end, Gaël Monfils gave everything to make the Serb doubt, obtaining two break points but it was not the day for the Frenchman, who failed on each of these two occasions to extend the match. Novak Djokovic, for his part, did not blink. From his first match point, the world number 1 sounded the death knell for Gaël Monfils’ career (6-3, 6-2 in 1h28 ‘), remaining undefeated against the Habs in 18 confrontations. Andy Murray will be the Serbian’s next opponent in Madrid.
MADRID (Spain, Masters 1000, clay, €6,575,560)
Defending champion: Alexander Zverev (GER)
2nd round
Djokovic (SER, n°1) beats Monfils (FRA): 6-3, 6-2
Murray (GBR, WC) beats Shapovalov (CAN, n°14): 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
Hurkacz (POL, n°12) – Davidovich Fokina (ESP)
Lajovic (SER, Q) – Ruud (NOR, n°5)
Nadal (ESP, n°3) – Kecmanovic (SER)
Goffin (BEL, Q) – Van de Zandschulp (PBS)
Norrie (GBR, n°9) – Isner (USA)
Alcaraz (ESP, n°7) beats Basilashvili (GEO): 6-3, 7-5
Rublev (RUS, n°6) beats Draper (GBR, WC): 2-6, 6-4, 7-5
Evans (GBR) – Bautista Agut (ESP, n°17)
Schwartzman (ARG, n°13) – Dimitrov (BUL)
Puglia (FRA, WC) – Tsitsipas (GRE, n°4)
Auger-Aliassime (CAN, n°8) – Garin (CHI)
De Minaur (AUS) – Sinner (ITA, n°10)
Korda (USA) – Musetti (ITA, Q)
Cilic (CRO) – A.Zverev (GER, n°2)
1st round
Djokovic (SER, n°1) – Bye
Monfils (FRA) beats Gimeno Valero (ESP, WC): 6-3, 6-0
Murray (GBR, WC) beats Thiem (AUT, PR): 6-3, 6-4
Shapovalov (CAN, n°14) beats Humbert (FRA, LL): 7-6 (1), 6-3
Hurkacz (POL, n°12) beats Dellien (BOL, Q): 7-5, 6-7 (11), 6-3
Davidovich Fokina (ESP) beats Harris (AFS): 7-5, 6-3
Lajovic (SER, Q) beat Coric (CRO): 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Ruud (NOR, n°5) – Bye
Nadal (ESP, n°3) – Bye
Kecmanovic (SER) beat Bublik (KAZ): 6-4, 7-5
Goffin (BEL, Q) beat Karatsev (RUS): 6-2, 7-5
Van de Zandschulp (PBS) beats Carreño Busta (ESP, n°16): 6-7 (6), 7-6 (1), 6-3
Norrie (GBR, #9) beats Kwon (CdS, Q): 7-5, 7-5
Isner (USA) beats Krajinovic (SER): 7-6 (8), 6-4
Basilashvili (GEO) beats Fognini (ITA): 7-5, 6-4
Alcaraz (ESP, n°7) – Bye
Rublev (RUS, n°6) – Bye
Draper (GBR, WC) defeated Sonego (ITA): 6-4, 6-3
Evans (GBR) beats Delbonis (ARG): 6-3, 6-4
Bautista Agut (ESP, n°17) beats Brooksby (USA): 6-0, 6-2
Schwartzman (ARG, #13) beat Paire (FRA, Q): 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-1
Dimitrov (BUL) beats Cressy (USA, Q): 6-2, 7-6 (4)
Puglia (FRA, WC) beat Khachanov (RUS): 6-3, 6-4
Tsitsipas (GRE, n°4) – Bye
Auger-Aliassime (CAN, n°8) – Bye
Garin (CHI) beats Tiafoe (USA): 6-1, 6-3
From Minaur (AUS) beats Martinez (ESP): 7-6 (2), 1-6, 6-3
Sinner (ITA, #10) beats Paul (USA): 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-3
Corda (USA) beats Opelka (USA, n°15): 6-3, 7-5
Musetti (ITA, Q) defeated Ivashka (BIE): 2-6, 6-3, 7-5
Cilic (CRO) beats Ramos-Viñolas (ESP): 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
A. Zverev (GER, n°2) – Bye