Monte Carlo: World No.1 Novak Djokovic’s preparations for the French Open were dealt with a blow as he suffered a 3-6, 6-4, 2-6 defeat by Russian Daniil Medvedev in the Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament here, Friday. However, second seed, Rafa Nadal advanced with a hard-fought win to seal a semifinal berth.
Djokovic, twice champion here, fought back to level the match after dropping the first set before the 23-year-old Medvedev claimed the biggest victory of his career in this quarterfinal encounter. Medvedev had lost each of his previous three clashes with Djokovic but he broke his Serbian opponent’s serve five times to move into the final four.
“He’s got a very solid backhand. He hits it very low and with depth,” Djokovic said after the game. “A windy day like today, conditions are changing every single game. It’s kind of tough to find the rhythm, and he (Medvedev) doesn’t give you much rhythm.
Medvedev will next face another Serb in Dusan Lajovic, who followed up his shock win over World No.5 Dominic Thiem with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Italian qualifier Lorenzo Sonego.
For Djokovic, it was another premature exit from an ATP Masters 1000 event after he crashed out in the early rounds at Indian Wells and Miami last month. The 31-year-old has struggled for rhythm in his first clay court event of the season and will need step up his game to have a chance of winning his fourth straight Grand Slam title at next month’s French Open.
Second seed Rafa Nadal was forced to work hard for his 18th straight match win at the Monte Carlo Country Club as he fought back to beat Argentina Guido Pella 7-6(7-1), 6-3.
The 11-time champion here made a sluggish start and was one point away from 1-5 deficit in the opening set but recovered well to convert seven of his 13 breakpoint opportunities and advance after two hours and 20 minutes.
“It was a very tough first set physically and mentally, too. Losing the first three games with my serve was tough. But I found a way at the right time,” World No.2 Nadal said.
“I was lucky at 4-1, he had two points to be 5-1 and with 5-1 it’s almost impossible. Then I played better. Being in the semifinals again here means a lot to me,” added the Spaniard.