After winning his first Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters title, world no.1 Novak Djokovic has used a two-week break to have a good rest and prepare for upcoming challenges on European clay courts.
Novak will take part at the Mutua Madrid Open next week (May 5-12), where he will defend 180 ATP points he gained for 2012 quarterfinal performance (lost to Janko Tipsarevic). Djokovic won the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in 2011. Singles Draw for this year’s edition will take place on Friday, May 3.
After Madrid, Nole will travel to Rome, where the last Masters clay court tournament of the year will be played from 12-19 May. The 25-year-old Serbian star is a two-time Internazionali BNL d’Italia former champion ( 2008, 2011). Last year he finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal, so he will defend 600 points.
There will be a week off between Rome and the second Grand Slam tournament of 2013 – Roland Garros. Last year Novak reached his first final in Paris, where he fell to Nadal (4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 5-7). He will defend 1200 points at the only Grand Slam he has not yet won.
The world’s most prestigious tennis event, Wimbledon, will be played on grass from June 24 to July 7 in London. Novak triumphed at the Championships in 2011. He will defend 720 ATP points; last year he was stopped in semifinals by Roger Federer (3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 3-6).
After Wimbledon, Novak will have four weeks to rest and prepare for the North American hard court season (Montreal, Cincinnati and US Open).
Photo: Sports Illustrated
