World no.1 Novak Djokovic opened his bid for a second Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters title against qualifier Albert Ramos-Viñolas with a 6-1, 6-4 second round victory on Tuesday.
Novak looked good in his first clay match in 2015. The top-seeded Serb forged a one set lead in dominant fashion. A break in the seventh game of the second set was enough for the 2013 champion to improve his H2H mark with the Spaniard to 2-0.
In the one hour, 26-minute contest, Nole converted four of his 13 break point opportunities and saved three of four break points he faced to claim his 26th win of the season. He was 11/14 on net approaches.
“I’m really pleased with my performance for my first match on clay against an experienced player on this surface,” Djokovic said. “There was a good intensity.”
Match statistics: aces (3-0), double faults (2-3), winners (24-7), unforced errors (30-28), total points won (69-47).
Novak will play against world no.52 Andreas Haider-Maurer on Thursday for a place in the ATP Masters 1000 event quarter-finals. It will be their first career meeting.
The Austrian upset Bernard Tomic of Australia (6-7, 7-6, 6-4).
Djokovic is bidding to become the first player to win the opening three ATP Masters 1000 events of the season after completing the Indian Wells-Miami title double for the third time in his career.
Photo: AP
