Djokovic overpowers Monfils with convincing victory, secure quarterfinal berth at Cincinnati Open
ATPFriday, 18 August 2023 at 05:05
Novak
Djokovic advanced to the quarterfinals of the Western & Southern Open with
a straightforward victory over Gael Monfils, winning 6-3, 6-2.
Nearly 18
years after their first encounter, Gael Monfils and Novak Djokovic once again
crossed paths in a tournament and faced off for the 19th time, with an
incredible dominance by the Serbian at 18-0.
Djokovic
had a swift second-round match following Alejandro Davidovich Fokina's
retirement with the score at 6-4, 0-0 in favor of Djokovic, lasting just 42
minutes.
Frenchman
Gael Monfils advanced by defeating 13th seed Cameron Norrie and recent Canadian
Open finalist Alex de Minaur. The former world No. 6 has enjoyed an excellent
campaign after a year away from the courts, during which he dropped to world
No. 394.
Former
world No. 1 Djokovic posed problems to Monfils with his service in the second
game of the set, but the Frenchman recovered and maintained parity without
conceding further break points until 4-3.
An erratic
game from the former world No. 5 allowed Djokovic to break to love, and he then
confirmed the set in his favor with his service, winning 6-3.
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Monfils
lost his way in the second set, conceding his service three times in a row to
an impeccable Djokovic, who capitalized on his opportunities and went 5-0
ahead. A break in favor of Monfils allowed him to narrow the margin, but 'Nole'
ultimately sealed the match 6-2.
Djokovic
hit 61% of his first serves, winning 80% of them, and 63% with his second
serve. On Monfils' side, he had a 54% first serve accuracy and won 80% of those
points, but when playing with the second serve, he managed only 15%.
This marks
Djokovic's 19th victory over Monfils, setting a new record for the most
one-sided h2h, surpassing Rafael Nadal's 18-0 record against Richard Gasquet.
In the next
round, Djokovic will face Taylor Fritz, who progressed to the second round
after Dusan Lajovic's retirement during the first set with a score of 5-0 in
favor of the American. Djokovic holds a 6-0 h2h record against Fritz, with
their last meeting occurring at the 2022 Nitto ATP Finals
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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