Novak Djokovic on Tuesday made a winning return to competition in the Monte Carlo Masters, but was made to work by his 198th-ranked Russian opponent as two-time defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced when his rival retired injured.
Djokovic is back on court after failing to get a waiver to enter the US for last month’s BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open due to his anti-COVID-19 vaccination stance.
The world No. 1 was in danger of losing the opening set against Russian qualifier Ivan Gakhov before easing through 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 in 1 hour, 47 minutes.
Photo: EPA-EFE
“I had never seen him play before today, and it’s always difficult to face an opponent you don’t know,” said the Serbian, a winner on the clay in Monte Carlo in 2013 and 2015.
Djokovic is either to face 21st-ranked Lorenzo Musetti or Luca Nardi, 159th, both Italian, for a place in the quarter-finals.
Tsitsipas progressed to the third round after France’s Benjamin Bonzi retired with a left-wrist issue after just 22 minutes, trailing the Greek 4-1 in the first set.
World No. 3 Tsitsipas next meets either Chilean Nicolas Jarry, ranked 58, or Australian Alexei Popyrin, 94th, for a place in the quarter-finals.
Djokovic is tuning up for a 23rd Grand Slam bid at the French Open, but the game was not as easy as expected with Gakhov taking the first break to lead 4-3.
Djokovic broke back immediately, but could not prevent the tiebreak, which he wrapped up on his first set point. The second set was one-sided even though Gakhov hung on until the end.
“It was probably, if you can call it this way, an ugly tennis win for me today,” said Djokovic, who is looking to claim a record-extending 39th ATP Masters title this week.
“I haven’t played my best, particularly in the first set, and I kind of expected that that was going to happen in a way with swirly conditions, a lot of wind today, changing directions,” Djokovic said.
“It’s different practicing and then playing an official match on clay, but all in all, I’m just pleased with the way I held my nerves I think in the important moments, and I managed to clinch the two-set win,” he added.
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