Monte Carlo Masters 2021: Novak Djokovic’s expected path to a 3rd title
Follow Us
The Clay season begins for most of the top players as the Monte Carlo Masters is all set to begin from 11th April. 18-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic is the top seed at the tournament and is one of the favorites alongside Rafael Nadal.
The Serb, who resides in Monte-Carlo itself has a 34-11 record at the tournament. Djokovic’s first Monte-Carlo match came in 2006 when he was just 18 against then-World No. 1 Roger Federer. The Serbian showed his talent on his debut in the Principality, pushing Federer to three sets.
Rafael Nadal won 46 straight matches in Monte-Carlo from 2005-13, but Djokovic brought that streak to an end in the 2013 final, putting on a clinical display to defeat the Spaniard in straight sets and lift his first title at the Masters 1000 tournament.
Djokovic has won two consecutive matches in Monte-Carlo against Nadal. In 2013, he beat the Spaniard in the final and in 2015, he ousted the lefty in the semi-finals. He is the only player to defeat Nadal at all three clay-court Masters 1000 events.
Novak Djokovic’s path to a 3rd title in the Principality
Novak Djokovic is in red-hot form after winning the Australian Open and will undoubtedly go as one of the favorites to lift the title. He has been practicing for over a two weeks at Monte Carlo and will look to stop Rafa Nadal from winning his 12th title.
Djokovic has been handed a rather tough draw and has a first round bye due to his seeding. The second round will test Nole to his absolute limits where he is likely to face the new sensation in tennis world, Italian Jannik Sinner. In the Round of 16, he could possibly face yet another tricky opponent in 13th seed Hubert Hurkacz– the Miami Masters champion. The other possibilities are Daniel Evans or Dusan Lajovic.
In the Quarter-Final, he is drawn alongside 5th seed Alexander Zverev and could very well face the German. Zverev will definitely ask some tough questions to the World No. 1. The other seeded player in Djokovic’s draw is 11th seed Davis Goffin.
The semi-finals will prove to be another test for Nole. According to seeding, he is to play 4th seed and Australian Open semi-finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece. The other likely possibility is 8th seed Matteo Berrettini. And in the Final, Novak will meet the 11-time champion, Rafael Nadal.
Projected draw for Novak Djokovic(By seeding)
- First Round– Bye
- Second Round– Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner
- Third Round– Novak Djokovic vs Hubert Hurkacz
- Quarter Final– Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev
- Semi Final– Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
- Final– Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal
Also read: Monte Carlo Masters 2021: Rafael Nadal’s expected path to a record 12th title
Stay Updated!
Lakshya Chopra
(2595 Articles Published)