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Novak Djokovic begins Monte Carlo Masters defence with easy win Novak Djokovic begins Monte Carlo Masters defence with easy win
(about 7 hours later)
Novak Djokovic made a convincing start to the defence of his Monte Carlo Masters title with a second-round thrashing of Albert Montañés. Novak Djokovic made a convincing start to the defence of his Monte Carlo Masters title with a second-round defeat of Albert Montañés. The world No2, who received a first-round bye, last year ended Rafael Nadal's eight-year winning streak in the principality and on the Serb's return he needed only 45 minutes to dispatch Montañés 6-1, 6-0.
The world No2, who received a first-round bye, ended Rafael Nadal's eight-year winning streak by the Mediterranean last year and needed just 45 minutes to dispatch Montañés 6-1, 6-0. The first set was more competitive than the scoreline suggested but the Spaniard won only five points in the second as Djokovic strolled through. The Serb, who lives in Monte Carlo, said: "It was my first match on this surface since Roland Garros [last July] so you never know how you're going to react. I lost only one game so there are not too many bad things I can say about my game."
The first set was more competitive than the scoreline suggested but the Spaniard won only five points in the second as Djokovic strolled through. Djokovic, bidding to become the first player to achieve an Indian Wells-Miami-Monte Carlo Masters treble in the same season, will next face the Spanish lucky loser Pablo Carreño or France's Gaël Monfils, who defeated Kevin Anderson of South Africa 6–4, 7–6.
The Serbian, who lives in Monte Carlo, told Sky Sports: "It was my first match on this surface since Roland Garros so you never know how you're going to react and today I lost only one game so there are not too many bad things I can say about my game." Djokovic has won the last four Masters events he has played, prevailing in Shanghai, Paris, Indian Wells and Miami.
Also into the third round is the ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, but the Frenchman had a much tougher time in beating Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. Also into the third round is the No5 seed Tomas Berdych, who fought back from a break down in both sets to secure a 7-5 6-4 victory against Dmitry Tursunov. The Russian made a strong start to the match as Berdych made a series of early mistakes, but the Czech found form with his serve just in time to set up a comfortable win.
The 12th seed Grigor Dimitrov needed three sets to beat Marcel Granollers 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 in the first round but there were defeats for Mikhail Youzhny and Jerzy Janowicz. The No9 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had a much tougher time in beating Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. The No12 Grigor Dimitrov needed three sets to beat Marcel Granollers 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 in the first round but there were defeats for Mikhail Youzhny and Jerzy Janowicz.
The 13th seed Youzhny was beaten 6-3, 7-6 by the Italian Andreas Seppi while Janowicz's miserable run continued with a 6-4, 6-2 loss to Michael Llodra. Youzhny was beaten 6-3, 7-6 by the Italian Andreas Seppi while Janowicz's miserable run continued with a 6-4, 6-2 defeat by Michael Llodra.
The Pole, who has struggled since reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals last summer, has lost his last six matches.