Monte-Carlo Masters: Novak Djokovic cruises to victory as Jack Draper narrowly beaten | Tennis News

Novak Djokovic returned to motion on the Monte-Carlo Masters with a cushty victory however Jack Draper was narrowly crushed by tenth seed Hubert Hurkacz.

Djokovic was taking part in his first match since Indian Wells after selecting to skip Miami after which parting methods with long-time coach Goran Ivanisevic.

With former doubles specialist and fellow Serb Nenad Zimonjic guiding him from the stands, Djokovic eased to a 6-1 6-2 victory over Russia’s Roman Safiullin.

Djokovic, who pulled out of the current Miami Open as he tries to stability his schedule, appeared contemporary as he broke Safiullin’s serve thrice within the opening set, and an additional two breaks within the second was sufficient to seal the win.

“I am more than happy. Even the video games that I misplaced, I had break factors in these video games. Actually good first match in the beginning of the clay season. I hope to take care of this rhythm,” Djokovic stated on Sky Sports activities.

On Sunday, Djokovic overtook Roger Federer because the oldest No 1-ranked singles participant in ATP rankings historical past, at 36 years and 321 days.

Hurkacz reached the second spherical with a 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-2) win, however was made to battle by Britain’s Draper after the Pole appeared like dominating early on.

Hurkacz raced right into a 3-0 lead within the first set however Draper rallied to stage at 4-4, earlier than the tenth seed broke serve to take the opener. Draper then broke to like twice to win the second set and pressure the decider.

With Hurkacz serving at 5-4 to win the match, Draper broke serve nevertheless it was a relieved Hurkacz who emerged victorious within the tiebreak.

Hurkacz, who additionally beat Draper finally yr’s match, will face Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain within the second spherical.

Draper’s exit ends British curiosity within the singles, with Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans additionally dropping within the first spherical.

“Jack is a superb competitor, he got here with plenty of good photographs on the finish and I managed to carry my serve and performed an incredible tiebreaker,” Hurkacz stated.

“I all the time attempt to compete the very best I can, the margins are so small and the circumstances are all the time completely different, the clay is much less slippery and the ball is flying otherwise so it’s important to handle this stuff and it isn’t simple.”

Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Monte-Carlo Masters forward of his opening match resulting from a proper forearm harm.

Alcaraz, not too long ago overtaken as world No 2 by Jannik Sinner, had been resulting from face Felix Auger-Aliassime within the second spherical after receiving a first-round bye.

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