Novak Djokovic qualified for the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati on Thursday by beating Frenchman Gaël Monfils (6-3, 6-2 In this veteran fight, (both 36) the Serbian, double winner in Ohio (2018, 2020), beat Monfils for the 19th time, who is having a great run this summer in North America after reaching the quarterfinals last week in Toronto.
But the French, 211th in the world, could not face “Nole”, and was swept away in 69 minutes. In the second set, Djokovic led 5-0 before losing his serve. But the former world number one pulled himself together to prevail on his next serve.
Alcaraz also qualified
“I served well and after the first break (in the first set) I raised my level,” explained Djokovic. Djokovic will face in the next round the American Taylor Fritz, qualified after the abandonment of the Serbian Dusan Lajovic, injured in a foot when he was down 5-0 in the first set. Carlos Alcaraz had to fight against Tommy Paul, 13th at ATP, to win 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (0/7), 6-3. The world No.1 took his revenge on the American, who had beaten him the previous week in Toronto in the quarterfinals. Alcaraz will be opposed in the next round to the Australian Max Purcell (70th), who beat Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-2, after having notably eliminated the N.7 Casper Ruud.