Andrey Rublev FEARS facing ‘a completely different Novak Djokovic’ after the Serb’s loss in Monte Carlo

Andrey Rublev believes defeat at Monte-Carlo will transform Novak Djokovic in a better player on clay in time.

Andrey Rublev FEARS facing ‘a completely different Novak Djokovic’ after the Serb’s loss in Monte Carlo

Andrey Rublev and Novak Djokovic (Image Credit: FirstSportz Graphic Team)

Andrey Rublev thinks Novak Djokovic will keep getting better on the clay surface as he plays more matches and in the rest of the tournaments. Novak Djokovic played his first two matches at the Monte-Carlo Masters following his return to the tour after missing the Sunshine Doubles.

In the Round of 16 match in Monte-Carlo, he lost to Lorenzo Musetti and was knocked out of the competition. Andrey Rublev thinks that this was only the first tournament the Serb played on clay this season. He believes the current World No.1 will adapt better in the next few tournaments before finding his form during the French Open.

YouTube video

The Russian on the sidelines of the tournament in Monte-Carlo made his opinions clear on the chances of Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros this year. He watched only a few games, and he was able to give his views on the Serb’s and the Italian’s performances. He also congratulated Lorenzo Musetti for the victory as winning over the 22-time Grand Slam champion is a great feat.

FS Video

“I saw the match. Not all, but the third set I saw. I mean, I can only say bravo to Musetti, because to beat Novak, you need to have level to beat him. I don’t know, both feeling. In the same time I was not surprised, because sometimes happens to Novak those things, like also the same, when I played him last year final in Serbia, that I won the match and I won 6-0 in the third, which is basically impossible happen somewhere else,” Andrey Rublev said.

“Sometimes it happens. But then when he goes to play slams or next Masters after first one on clay, because it’s tough, you don’t have much time, everyone adapt different. But then with the time, with a few more weeks, I don’t know, or Rome or Madrid or Roland Garros, it will be also a completely different Djokovic. But for Musetti, I’m only happy because he played amazing match and he deserve it,” he continued.

Keep Exploring: Andy Murray requests the ATP and WTA to understand the ‘perspective’ of Ukrainians as Wimbledon lifts its ban on Russians

Andrey Rublev advances into the semi-final of Monte-Carlo Masters

Andrey Rublev (Image Credit: ATP Tour)
Andrey Rublev (Image Credit: ATP Tour)

The current World No.6 is trying to repeat the successes of last season. However, he has been sluggish till now. He struggled in the Adelaide International 1 and Adelaide International 2 tournaments. However, he managed to reach the Quarter-final round of the Australian Open but lost to Novak Djokovic. Subsequently, after struggling in the next few competitions, he made it to the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships.

In the Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open, he was knocked out in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, in the Monte-Carlo Masters, he is able to impress with his performance. He managed to beat Jaume Munar, Karen Khachanov, Jan-Lennard Struff in the previous rounds to reach the semi-finals.

Here, he will play against Taylor Fritz. He also participated in this tournament with Karen Khachanov as doubles pair. However, they were defeated by the British-Dutch pair of Neal Skupski and Wesley Koolhof in the Round of 16.

In case you missed it: