18:49
Novak Djokovic – Gaël Monfils 4:2
Is the whole match just evolving and getting better? You have the feeling that the level is increasing. This time it’s Monfils again who has put up a strong rally and starts again here.
18:48
Novak Djokovic – Gaël Monfils 4:2
But the Djoker is now much better in the match overall. With a smash winner he moves to 40:30.
18:47
Novak Djokovic – Gaël Monfils 4:2
Then de Pariser suddenly shakes an incredibly strong forehand pass out of his sleeve, crosses it directly to the sideline. Djokovic, who is on the net, has to smile appreciatively. 30 both.
18:46
Novak Djokovic – Gaël Monfils 4:2
Monfils misses a backhand that has to be converted, has the entire left side free, but shoots the backhand too long. 30:15 for Nole.
18:44
Novak Djokovic – Gaël Monfils 4:2
Djokovic converted his first breakball in the match, but is currently benefiting significantly from Monfils, who did not return so well from the break. He hits a net roller, which only sinks back to the ground behind the baseline. Break to 4:2 for the number one in the world!
18:43
Novak Djokovic – Gaël Monfils 3:2
Until just now, Gaël Monfils was slightly superior. But the Frenchman is now making mistakes in his own service game and is faced with two breakballs from the Serb after a double fault.
18:42
Novak Djokovic – Gaël Monfils 3:2
Djokovic has to take more risks – and he does! Monfils still gets a backhand stopball from the Serb, but not the subsequent volley ball in the duel on the net.
18:40
Novak Djokovic – Gaël Monfils 3:2
Ace Inside! Djokovic has an advantage. And turns the ball a few seconds later because Monfils plays a weak forehand cross on the defensive. This is how the Djoker saves himself to make it 3: 2, but so far he has had significantly bigger problems than his French counterpart.
18:37
Novak Djokovic – Gaël Monfils 2:2
This time, however, the Frenchman’s backhand is just too long. Debut again.
18:37
Novak Djokovic – Gaël Monfils 2:2
Almost half an hour has passed since the last rally. The first rally is a very long one, both players don’t dare to take too many risks in the baseline duel. Finally, a brave inside-out winner from Monfils just barely scratches the line. Advantage and breakball for the underdog!
18:35
To be continued soon
The roof is extended, the two protagonists are currently warming up again. Does Djokovic, who is not in very good shape anyway, have problems getting back on track in his third service game?
18:08
rain break
It has started to rain, so the players have to be taken off the field. The center court roof has to be closed, resulting in a short break.
18:06
Novak Djokovic – Gaël Monfils 2:2
Monfils gives him a little help and puts the Serb back in an advantageous position with an avoidable baseline error. Nole doesn’t know how to use it. Because his French opponent plays powerful shots, puts his opponent in position and then turns it into a new debut with an inside-in winner.
18:04
Novak Djokovic – Gaël Monfils 2:2
Again double fault – number three already! You can tell that the Serb isn’t beaming with self-confidence at the moment. Especially with the second service, there are still a few problems.
18:03
Novak Djokovic – Gaël Monfils 2:2
In the baseline duel, Monfils countered a strong forehand from the Serb with an even better cross shot, which the world number one can only return into the net. With a longline winner, Djokovic takes the lead again.
18:02
Novak Djokovic – Gaël Monfils 2:2
It took the two protagonists some time to arrive in the Spanish capital in this second round match, now both seem more stable in their game. Djokovic sets the score at 30:15 with a service winner.
18:00
Novak Djokovic – Gaël Monfils 2:2
The Frenchman just doesn’t hit the back left corner, so Djokovic also gets on the scoreboard in this game. With an aggressive backhand cross, Monfils doesn’t give the Serb any hope at all.
17:59
Novak Djokovic 2-1 Gaël Monfils
Djokovic dealt with the first pressure situation confidently and still turned the service game in his favor. Monfils doesn’t want to let that happen in his second game, taking a 40-0 lead early on with a service winner and thanks to two unforced errors by his opponent.
17:57
Novak Djokovic 2-1 Gaël Monfils
Monfils shows how powerful he can play. But the powerful forehand hit is centimeters too far, Djokovic’s advantage. The 34-year-old remains cool in the baseline duel that follows and waits for the Frenchman to make a mistake. Rightly so – the French put a forehand too long again.
17:55
Novak Djokovic 1-1 Gaël Monfils
Djokovic fends off the first, hits hard and goes to the net. Monfils happens far into the side. And he can also defend number two, surprising his opponent with an inside-in shot.
17:53
Novak Djokovic 1-1 Gaël Monfils
There is the first ace for the Djoker, but he is still too error-prone at the moment. 15:40 from the Serb’s point of view and two break points for Monfils!
17:52
Novak Djokovic 1-1 Gaël Monfils
Monfils puts on a first spectacular action at the net, sprints from the side back to the middle and can set the volley winner there with a jump. Djokovic had targeted a weak, intentional passing shot. The second double fault of the world number one gives him a deficit of 0:30.
17:51
Novak Djokovic 1-1 Gaël Monfils
In this, Monfils takes advantage of it and then serves hard to the outside when the ball is played. Djokovic’s backhand return lands behind the baseline. 1:1 after games.
17:50
Novak Djokovic 1-0 Gaël Monfils
Djokovic wants to return aggressively after the 30:30 equalizer, but gets stuck on the edge of the net. Like the Serb, Monfils also produces the first double fault early on, so that it is the debut.
17:49
Novak Djokovic 1-0 Gaël Monfils
How is Monfils doing in the first service game? After being 0:15 behind, he benefited from a baseline error by the Serb in a first long rally, which he repeated. 30:15 for the Parisian.
17:46
Novak Djokovic 1-0 Gaël Monfils
Djokovic lets himself be carried away by the first double fault early on, but then restores the old distance. A slightly too long longline forehand brings Monfils back up, but the Djoker closes the sack in the following rally: At the net he plays a forehand volley longline, which the Frenchman can no longer really reach.
17:44
Novak Djokovic 0-0 Gaël Monfils
In the past few minutes, the two have warmed up, now the favorite serves first. After winning the first point, Monfils wants to hit a passing ball, but doesn’t hit it properly, so that the felt ball flies towards Djokovic. He has to duck before the bullet, but after his opponent apologizes, he grins. 30:0 for the apparently good-humored Serb.
17:42
head to head
Given the years of experience of the two players, there have already been a number of duels, 17 in total. Entertainer Gaël Monfils is sort of a favorite opponent of Djokovic because he actually won all 17 clashes – impressive! Of course, the Frenchman wants to end this negative series and is now measuring himself in the 18th attempt with the Djoker.
17:40
clay court
How are today’s players on the ground of the current tournaments? Monfils won his first career title on clay (Sopot, 2005) but has since gone on to only win tournaments on hard courts. After all, his best performance was in a Grand Slam tournament at the French Open (semifinals, 2008), for which the tennis world is currently preparing. The Djoker has won the most tournaments on hard court, which is also due to the simply more frequent number of tournaments. However, the Serb is much stronger on sand than on grass. He has already won the Madrid Masters three times and wants to follow that up with his fourth title in the Spanish capital this week.
17:34
The big favourite
Novak Djokovic wrote a lot of headlines outside of sport this year – keyword Australian Open and the entry posse due to the lack of corona vaccination. Finally, the focus should be on sport again, but Djoker was not in top form and made people sit up and take notice when he explained this with an unspecified illness from which he had not recovered. This disease is said to have nothing to do with the corona virus. Since losing to Andrey Rublev in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters, the world no. Will the title favorite come back from this break with renewed vigour?
17:28
Sorribes Tormo ends the wait
In the round of 16 of the women’s masters, the Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo has just converted the match point after more than two and a half hours, clearing the court for Djokovic and Monfils.
17:26
The French challenger
Gaël Monfils has been part of the extended world tennis elite for years, the 35-year-old was able to celebrate his first title on the ATP Tour in 2005. Ten more followed, and the native of Paris was already in the top ten of the world rankings. So an experienced man is approaching Djokovic, who, however, still lacks the victory of a Masters, let alone a Grand Slam tournament, in his list of titles. Despite his advanced age, the Frenchman is fit this calendar year and proved his good form by winning the tournament in Adelaide, Australia (ATP 250) and taking part in the quarterfinals at the Australian Open. This currently means 21st place in the world rankings.
17:17
Previous Matches
The reason for the delay is the two previous matches, both of which went the full distance of three sets. Andrey Rublev first had his problems against the British youngster Jack Draper and was only able to prevail after about 2:20 h. The clash between Russia’s Daria Kasatkina and Sara Sorribes Tormo is currently ongoing. The Spaniard led 4-1 in the last set, but is currently letting her opponent close in again. After this match is over, Monfils and the Djoker are finally allowed to enter the center court of the Manolo Santana Stadium.
17:09
Warm welcome
Good day and welcome to the second round match of the Masters in Madrid! With a little delay, the duel between world number one, Novak Djokovic, and his French challenger Gaël Monfils will begin in a few minutes.