Novak Djokovic beat Borna Coric in two sets at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo. The former world number one will face Dominic Thiem in the round of 16.
The shape curve of Novak Djokovic continues to point upwards. After his sovereign opening victory against compatriot Dusan Lajovic, the Serb defeated Borna Coric 7:6 (2), 7:5.
Djokovic quickly took a 4-1 lead in the first set, but the 30-year-old could only win the round in the tiebreak. In the duel with his idol, Coric had to give up his serve twice at the beginning of the second act.
In the meantime, the “Djoker” had his dear troubles and misery. After the two-time Monte Carlo champion left nine (!) match points behind, he went into the set extension – where, after 2:16 hours, he made the victory in follow-up perfect.
In the round of the last eight, Djokovic and Dominic Thiem will meet on Thursday. Austria’s number one, who had to fend off a match point against Andrey Rublev at the start, is 5-1 behind in an internal comparison. Thiem won his last duel with the twelve-time major champion at the French Open 2017.
In the quarter-finals the next hammer opponent threatens for both: Monte Carlo record champion Rafael Nadal.
The German-Austrian double duel with a Croatian touch went to the current Australian Open winners: Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic won against Alexander and Mischa Zverev in the round of 16 6:2, 6:1. 2018 Marach/Pavic already won three tournaments, besides the Melbourne coup the successful team also triumphed in Auckland and Doha.
Here the single tableau in Monte Carlo