Djokovic beats Monfils again in his discreet return to the Magic Box

He won 6-3 and 6-2, achieving his eighteenth victory against the French in as many games, and being in the round of 16

The timid whistles when he appeared at the Manolo Santana were immediately drowned out by the shows of support from an audience that prioritized his hierarchy and the three titles won in the capital, the privilege of enjoying one of the greatest after three years, facing disapproval for episodes like the one that prevented him from playing the Australian Open. Tennis is now a profession that demands patience and resignation to Novak Djokovic, who in his first three service turns had to neutralize as many breakage threats. He came out of the trance and ended up imposing himself on Gael Monfils 6-3 and 6-2, in one hour and 26 minutes, and qualified for the round of 16.

With only three previous tournaments on his racket this season, the only ones he has been able to play due to his refusal to be vaccinated against covid, he still lacks competitive pace and confidence in his shots. Recent proof of his deficits was the 6-0 conceded against Andrey Rublev last Sunday in the final of the ATP 250 in Belgrade, where he had to suffer in each game until he finished exhausted, without the fuel that elite tennis requires.

A tailored rival

Monfils was an opponent to suit him, a man he had defeated in his 17 crosses and who, moreover, offers the long exchanges he needs right now. At 35 years old, the Frenchman, winner in Adelaide at the beginning of the course, still moves with dignity around the circuit. He is 21st in the rankings and in Miami he had the pleasure of causing the defeat that unseated Daniil Medvedev of his short-lived stint at number 1 in the world.

Djokovic got three breaks: in the sixth game of the match, in the third, blank, of the second set, and in the seventh to win a match that was not brilliant on either side of the court. Any higher claim led to an error. Chain too many Monfils to stop the bleeding in their duels with the Balkan. There was a half-hour lull, brought about by the rain, which stopped the match at 2-2 and deuce and caused it to be disputed indoors from that moment on.