Losing his way on clay

Monte Carlo, April 19 

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic’s French Open preparations were dealt with a blow as he suffered a 6-3 4-6 6-2 defeat by Russian Daniil Medvedev in the Monte Carlo Masters quarterfinals today. Djokovic, twice champion in Monte Carlo, fought back to level the match after dropping the first set before the 23-year-old Medvedev claimed the biggest victory of his career.

Medvedev had lost each of his previous three clashes with Djokovic but he broke his Serbian opponent’s serve five times to move into the final four. “He’s got a very solid backhand. He hits it very low and with depth,” Djokovic said. “A windy day like today, conditions are changing every single game. It’s kind of tough to find the rhythm, and he doesn’t give you much rhythm. He improved his movement a lot since last year. He definitely deserves to be where he is.” 

Medvedev will next face another Serb in Dusan Lajovic, who followed up his shock win over world No. 5 Dominic Thiem with a 6-4 7-5 victory over Italian qualifier Lorenzo Sonego.

For Djokovic, it was another premature exit from an ATP Masters 1000 event after he crashed out in the early rounds at Indian Wells and Miami last month. The 31-year-old has struggled for rhythm in his first claycourt event of the season and will need step up his game to have a chance of winning his fourth straight Grand Slam title at next month’s French Open.

Second seed Rafa Nadal was forced to work hard for his 18th straight match win at the Monte Carlo Country Club as he fought back to beat Argentina Guido Pella 7-6(1) 6-3. The 11-time champion made a sluggish start and was one point away from 1-5 deficit in the opening set but recovered well to convert seven of his 13 break-point opportunities and advance after two hours and 20 minutes. “It was a very tough first set, physically and mentally. Losing the first three games with my serve was tough. But I found a way at the right time,” world No. 2 Nadal said. — Reuters