Singles draw has been made for the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, taking place at the Monte-Carlo Country Club from April 9 until April 16.
Novak is a top seed and has a first-round BYE. The world no.1 will open his 2023 clay-court season campaign against Ivan Gakhov (RUS, Q), in his first appearance since falling in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships semis to Daniil Medvedev.
Nole’s potential rivals in the later stages of the tournament are:
3rd round: Lorenzo Musetti (ITA, 16), Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB)
Quarter-finals: Jannik Sinner (ITA, 7), Hubert Hurkacz (POL, 10), Diego Schwartzman (ARG)
Semi-finals: Daniil Medvedev (RUS, 3), Holger Rune (DEN, 6), Cameron Norrie (GBR, 11), Alexander Zverev (RUS, 13), Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP), Dominic Thiem (AUT, WC)…
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE, 2), Casper Ruud (NOR, 4), Andrey Rublev (RUS, 5), Taylor Fritz (USA, 8), Karen Khachanov (RUS, 9)… are in the opposite half of the draw, and Novak can’t meet them before the final.
Djokovic won the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters title twice, in 2013 and 2015.
Last year he lost to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the second round (3-6, 7-6, 1-6).
This will be Novak’s 16th appearance at the event (35-13 record).
Stefanos Tsitsipas is a defending champion.
