Novak Djokovic qualified for the quarterfinals at the Monte Carlo Masters 1000, where he was booed

The Serbian Novak Djokovic qualified for the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 by beating the Italian in their third round duel Lorenzo Musetti (24th in the world), with whom he had lost precisely at that same stage of the tournament a year ago.

The victory of the leader of the ATP world ranking was the news of the day in the Monegasque tournament, along with the eliminations of the Russian Daniil Medvedev and from German Alexander Zverev, fourth and fifth in the world, respectively. After consummating his particular vendetta, Novak Djokovic will face the Australian tomorrow in the quarterfinals Alex De Minaur (11th), who defeated his compatriot Alexei Popyrin (46th) by 6-3 and 6-4.

The Serbian will experience his first quarterfinal on Monegasque clay since 2019 and his tenth in total. He has not reached the semifinals in that competition since the 2015 edition, in which he achieved his second and until now last title in this Masters 1000 that traditionally opens the European season on clay towards Roland Garros.

Novak Djokovic, between revenge and booing

Lorenzo Musetti had given the big surprise before Novak Djokovic in 2023 and this Thursday he also started creating problems, breaking the Serb’s serve from the start to then distance himself with 4-2 in the first set. With the score at 4-3, the world No. 1 protested a ball to the referee and that provoked loud boos from the public, usually supporters of the players from neighboring Italy. The Serbian did not allow himself to be intimidated and even made some gestures that were understood by a section of the spectators as a provocation.

Little by little, Novak Djokovic He was rediscovering his tennis, he ended up taking that first set 7-5 and then in the set he didn’t have so many problems, finishing 6-3. “He played a little less well than me. I had the support of the public,” said the Serbian ironically, who estimated that at that moment of booing “the game changed.”

Two favorites said goodbye quickly in Monte Carlo

For its part, Daniil Medvedev He gave in to pressure and anger, being eliminated in the round of 16 against his compatriot Karen Khachanov (17th) by 6-3 and 7-5. In the run-up, the world number 4 had already been a victim of his temperamental character against the Frenchman. Gael Monfils, losing concentration for three games before returning to the match. Against Khachanov, the incident occurred at the end of the match and cost him the defeat.

“I’m happy because it’s the first time I’ve beaten him since 2018” in the Moscow semifinals, he congratulated himself Karen Khachanovsilver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, in 2021. In the quarterfinals he will face the Greek on Friday Stefanos Tsitsipas (12th), who beat the German Alexander Zverev by 7-5 and 7-6 (3).

The Italian did not fail among the favorites Jannik SinnerNo. 2 in the world, who beat the German 6-4, 6-2 Jan-Lennard Struff (25º). Sinner, recent champion in Miami and who at the beginning of the season was crowned at the Australian Open, will face in the quarterfinals the winner of the duel between the Dane Holger Rune (7th), who defeated the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (9th) by 7-6 (9), 3-6 and 7-6 (2).