Mats Wilander urges Novak Djokovic to play Monte Carlo Masters and become ‘threat’ at French Open
World No.5 Novak Djokovic has won two titles at the Monte Carlo Masters and was defeated in the semifinal last year.
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Novak Djokovic, Mats Wilander (Image via X/ESPN, Ubitennis)
Mats Wilander wants Novak Djokovic not to skip the Monte Carlo Masters, the first clay court ATP Masters 1000 of the season. Wilander feels playing the clay court events en route to the French Open will help the Serb get court time, which in turn could make him a threat at Roland Garros.
Djokovic recently played the Miami Open final, where Jakub Mensik, with a pair of tie-breaks, clinched a straight-set win to lift his career’s first ATP title. It was Djokovic’s first final since the 2024 Shanghai Masters. As he failed to lift his 100th ATP title, he will turn his focus to the clay swing.
I think he should play in Monte Carlo. I don’t think the surface matters much when you’re Novak Djokovic. He has the ability to play on clay the same way as on hard. Monte Carlo isn’t a tournament where he’s had great results, but it’s a tournament where you can win a few matches.
Mats Wilander told Eurosport
The most successful clay-court player, Rafael Nadal, won’t be in action as the Spaniard bade his farewell to tennis in last year’s Davis Cup. Wilander said the 14-time French Open champion was a “different animal” in Monte Carlo, as he has won a total of 11 titles there. But Djokovic, according to Wilander, needs two to three weeks before he adapts to the red dirt.
We didn’t think Novak was going to be a threat this year at Roland-Garros. Now he’s a threat.
Mats Wilander added
Djokovic suffered a three-set defeat to Casper Ruud in the semifinals in last year’s event in the Principality. The 37-year-old is a two-time champion in Monte Carlo, having won the title in 2013 and 2015.
Andy Roddick claims Andy Murray’s addition to team is helping Novak Djokovic
Though Novak Djokovic fell short of acquiring his 100th title, it gave him enough confidence about his game and he will hope for decent campaigns as the year progresses. Former player Andy Roddick has suggested that Djokovic still has it in him to claim the historic 25th Grand Slam title.
According to the 2003 US Open champion, Andy Murray‘s addition to the entourage has been a motivating factor for the 24-time Major champion. Roddick said the Belgrade native is still a favorite in Grand Slam events after Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
He seems happy playing right now. He seems motivated to play right now. He has someone different to report to. Maybe that’s the benefit of the Murray situation. So long as he is in tennis, it’s better to watch. Even a version of him, and I say this gently, where he is ‘only’ the third favorite in every Slam now.
Andy Roddick said on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast
Roddick admitted that he didn’t think he would see much of Djokovic this year as prior to the Miami Open, the latter suffered three consecutive defeats. He withdrew from his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open and lost to Matteo Berrettini and Botic van de Zandschulp in the Qatar Open and Indian Wells, respectively.
Novak Djokovic last lifted a tour-level title at the 2023 ATP Finals
Djokovic was trophy-less on the tour last year and won his career’s first gold medal at the Paris Olympics. He did come close to his 100th ATP title as he made it to the final of the Wimbledon and Shanghai Masters, but title still eluded him as he lost to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, respectively.
The last time the Serb won an ATP title was in the 2023 ATP Finals where he got the better of the current World No.1 in straight sets. If he wins another title, he will join Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer as the third player in Men’s tennis to reach the 100-title mark.
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