Clay season preview: Monte Carlo, Banja Luka, Madrid, Rome, RG
Four weeks after the semi-final finish in Dubai, Novak is finalising preparations for the European clay-court swing. The world no.1 will first compete at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters (April 9-16) where he’s lifted the championship trophy twice (2013 and 2015).
Davidovich Fokina downs Novak in Monte Carlo
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina prevailed in a two hour, 55-minute battle on Tuesday, recording a 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1 victory to reach the third round. Novak is heading to Belgrade, where the Serbia Open, an ATP 250 clay-court event, will be held next week.
Novak eases into second round, faces Coric next
Novak took only 56 minutes to seal his place in the second round of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters after defeating fellow Serbian Dusan Lajovic 6-0, 6-1 in the opener. He will face world no.39 Borna Coric of Croatia on Wednesday (1-0 H2H)
Goffin defeats Novak in Monte Carlo upset
The second seed suffered a 2-6, 6-3, 5-7 quarter-final upset at the hands of no.10 seed David Goffin in a two-hour, 35-minute match.
Novak battles past Simon to reach Monte Carlo last 16
Next up for the two-time former champion is no.13 seed Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP).
Novak falls in his first clay-court match of the season
World no.55 Jiri Vesely ended Novak’s Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters campaign with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 win in two hours and six minutes on Wednesday.
Novak makes history with second Monte-Carlo crown!
With a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 win over Tomas Berdych, Novak became the first player ever to win the opening three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events of the season.
Novak masters Nadal, faces Berdych in Monte-Carlo final!
Top seed and 2013 titlist beat eight-time former champion Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-3 in the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters blockbuster semi-final.
Impressive Nole eases into Monte-Carlo Masters semi-finals
Novak beat no.8 seed Marin Cilic 6-0, 6-3 in 65 minutes to reach the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters last four on Friday.
Novak makes light work of Haider-Maurer to set up Cilic clash
Nole cruised into the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters quarter-finals, knocking out world no.52 Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT) 6-4, 6-0 in just 56 minutes.
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