Novak Djokovic bounces back to oust Juan Monaco in round three – Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters 2013
World number one, Novak Djokovic, made an epic comeback from a set down to overpower the Argentinean number two, Juan Monaco, in a three-set thriller at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters 2013 on Thursday. He notched up a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory against the Argentine to power into the quarter-finals at this
Seeded top at this event, Djokovic showed tremendous skills to outclass the Argentine in almost two hours.
“It's another big test obviously, again a two-hour match,” said the jubilant Serb in a courtside interview after the match. “Obviously I'm not physically out there feeling my best. Somehow feels that I always miss that half a step. But I'm trying. I'm fighting. After I lost the first set today, I tried to find that inner strength. I found it again. So that's a positive thing. Every day brings a new challenge and we'll see what happens tomorrow.”
Currently ranked 20th in the Emirates Airways ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour Rankings, Monaco made a strong entry into this match. He drew the first blood in the third game and leaped to a 3-1 lead. Despite levelling the scores in the eighth game, the Argentinean got the breakthrough in the very next game and clinched the opener with a 6-4 score line.
Djokovic re-focused his strategy in the proceeding set. He got the crucial break in the second game and cruised to a 3-0 lead. The Serb lost her edge in the fifth game but went berserk, eventually grabbing the equaliser by winning six games to two.
The Belgrade native maintained his intensity in the deciding set. He capitalised on two break chances and leaped to a 5-1 lead. Djokovic exchanged a break and sealed the decider with a 6-2 success.
This is Djokovic’s first clay court tournament this season. He injured his ankle at the Davis Cup almost one and half week ago and after securing this victory, the Serb progressed into the final eight.
The Serb will face off the Finn star, Jarkko Nieminen, who stunned fifth seeded Juan Martin Del Porto in a three-set mouth-watering match later that day. He penned down a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(4) score line in two hours and 38 minutes to set up this battle.
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