Singles draw has been made for Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, the first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on clay in 2017.
Novak is no.2 seed and has a first-round BYE. He will open campaign against world no.30 Gilles Simon (FRA, H2H 10-1) on Tuesday about 15:00 CET.
Nole’s potential rivals in the later stages of the tournament are:
3rd round: Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP, 13), Fabio Fognini (ITA)
Quarter-final: Dominic Thiem (AUT, 6), David Goffin (BEL, 10)
Semi-final: Rafael Nadal (ESP, 4), Grigor Dimitrov (BUL, 8)
Andy Murray (GBR, 1), Stan Wawrinka (SUI, 3), Marin Cilic (CRO, 5), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA, 7) … are in the top half of the draw and Novak can’t meet them before the final.
The tournament begins on Sunday, April 16, and will be played until April 23.
Djokovic won Monte-Carlo Masters title twice, in 2013 and 2015. Last year, he was stopped in the second round by Jiri Vesely (4-6, 6-2, 4-6).
This will be Novak’s 11th appearance at the Monte Carlo Country Club (28-8 record).
Nole partnered his Davis Cup teammate Viktor Troicki to a 7-5, 6-3 win over Gilles Simon (FRA) and Gilles Muller (LUX) in the first round of doubles competition.
Photo: Getty Images
