DJOKOVIC LEADS OFF IN MONTE-CARLO, NADAL AND FEDERER TO FOLLOW

Written by: on 15th April 2014
Roger Federer vs Radek Stepanek
DJOKOVIC LEADS OFF IN MONTE-CARLO, NADAL AND FEDERER TO FOLLOW

epa04168863 Roger Federer of Switzerland returns the ball to Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic during their second round match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 15 April 2014. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER  |

By Ricky Dimon

Novak Djokovic kicked off his title defense at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters with the loss of just one game on Tuesday afternoon. Djokovic thrashed Albert Montanes 6-1, 6-0 in a mere 45 minutes while saving all four of the break points he faced–all in the first set. The world No. 2 lost only one service point in the entire second set. He awaits either Gael Monfils or Pablo Carreno Busta in the third round on Thursday.

 

“For the first match on clay, it was great,” the Serb assured. “I lost only one game, so there were not too many flaws in my game that I could recall. I was just trying to use the court well, not allow [Montanes] to get into a rhythm. I was changing the angles. I was coming to the net, being aggressive. Just very good first match.”

 

David Ferrer also enjoyed a very good opening match. Like Djokovic, the sixth-seeded Spaniard served up a bagel in the second set. It was Jeremy Chardy who was on the receiving end, as the Frenchman was doomed by 33 percent serving in a 6-3, 6-0 loss. Ferrer will go up against either Grigor Dimitrov or Albert Ramos for a spot in the quarterfinals.

 

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will look to continue the trend of first-round bye recipients taking care of business in their second-round matches when they take the court on Wednesday. Nadal is going up against Teymuraz Gabashvili and Federer is facing Radek Stepanek.

 

Nadal, an eight-time champion of this event whose reign ended against Djokovic in last year’s title match, is 3-0 lifetime against Gabashvili. The Russian booked his spot in the last 32 with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Gilles Simon on Tuesday.

 

Federer is a dominant 13-2 in 15 previous matches against Stepanek and the Swiss has won nine in a row. Both of Stepanek’s victories came on clay, but those results were back in 2002 (Gstaad) and 2008 (Rome). They have met twice in the past year, with Federer prevailing 6-3, 6-3 last spring in Madrid and 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-3 earlier this season in Dubai.

 

Stepanek’s week got off to a fast start on Monday, when he destroyed Ivo Karlovic 6-1, 6-2.

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