Winning In Monte Carlo Has Special Meaning for Novak Djokovic

Written by: Staff on 22nd April 2013

Winning In Monte Carlo Has Special Meaning for Novak Djokovic

epa03671758 Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns the ball to Rafael Nadal of Spain during the final match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 21 April 2013. Djokovic won in two sets. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER |

There is no more patriotic sporting Serbian than Novak Djokovic but the he has made his home in the tax-free principality of Monaco since 2006 and therefore to win the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters and do so by ending the eight year winning run of Rafael Nadal, ranks as one of the world’s no.1’s most emotional triumphs.

Djokovic halted Nadal’s 46-match winning run on the red clay of the Monte Carlo Country Club, a streak dating back to a third round defeat against the long-since retired Argentine Guillermo Coria in 2003.

“It’s such a great pleasure to win here, it’s very special,” said Djokovic who took the prestigious trophy back to his apartment just a couple of hundred yards away and celebrated by having a series of photographs taken with his girlfriend Jelena Ristic and pet dog Pierre.

“I wanted that trophy badly all my life, especially in the last six or seven years that I’ve been living here in Monaco between tournaments. It is a great confidence-boost before the rest of the clay-court season.”

Djokovic measured his celebration, respectful of Nadal who he described as “the greatest ever on clay”. The champion, who has now scored Masters 1000 final victories over Spaniard in the three clay court events at Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome but lost out in last year’s French Open final, said: “Rafa, thanks for allowing me to win here at least once. I can’t ask for a better start to the clay season.”

What made the title even more sensational was the fact Djokovic left the decision whether or not to play the tournament right up to the last minute because of the right ankle he injured playing Davis Cup against the United States in Boise, Idaho two weeks ago.

Long-time coach Marian Vajda strongly advised Djokovic not to play the event, believing he would endanger his chances of winning the one Grand Slam title he needs to complete his resume at the French Open in six weeks’ time.

“If somebody told me 10 days ago I’d be winning the trophy, I wouldn’t think it’s so realistic, to be honest,” said Djokovic.

“I went through pain, I went through a big challenge, mentally, physically, emotionally, and in the end it was getting better as the tournament was going on.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Jelena Ristic, Marian Vajda, Monte Carlo, Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, Novak Djokovic, Serbian tennis news, Tennis News