Novak Djokovic eased his way into the Monte-Carlo Masters third round with an emphatic 6-1 6-2 victory over Roman Safiullin.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner concluded the match with little fuss in little more than an hour to set up a clash with either Lorenzo Musetti or Arthur Fils, who are in action later on Tuesday.
This was the second meeting between the pair since Djokovic beat the Russian in straight sets in Tel Aviv two years ago.
Djokovic claimed a double break in this match to move 3-0 in front, with Safiullin desperately struggling to utilise his service game in the opening exchanges.
The world No. 41 showed admirable resistance to claim his first hold after staving off three Djokovic break points to reduce the arrears at 4-1.
However, he was broken emphatically to love once again to allow Djokovic to move a set up in this contest.
Despite an early hold in the second set, the Russian was broken again to go 3-1 down, before Djokovic penetrated through Safiullin’s serve again to win the contest after a second match point.
When reflecting on the win, Djokovic said: “I’m very pleased; even in the games that I lost, I had break points in those. It was a really good match to start the clay season, which has always been a little bit up and down for me.
“I started off well in this tournament last year and then I lost the second match. I hope to maintain this rhythm, I have a day of training tomorrow and then I’m hoping to come back with the same aptitude and quality of tennis.”
Djokovic is now the oldest man to be ranked world No. 1 ahead of his 37th birthday next month, with Rohan Bopanna holding that honour in the men’s doubles rankings at the age of 44.
The Serbian joked about the duo’s advancing years, but the two-time Monte-Carlo winner also took a step back to reflect on his own stellar career.
“I met Bopanna yesterday who is the oldest [men’s] doubles number one in history. He said that we have a combined age of 80!
“He does contribute to the 80 more than I do. But to still compete at the highest level and be number one in the world at almost 37 is not something I dreamt or planned to become a reality.
“But all the work and dedication to the sport in the end, and to body and staying fit, is paying off. I’m able to maintain that longevity and extend my career for years and years.”
Zverev overcomes Offner
Alexander Zverev sealed a place in the third round with a resounding 6-3 6-4 win over Sebastian Ofner.
The world No. 5 was at his imperious best against the Austrian after emerging victorious in the space of one hour and 18 minutes, and faces either Tomas Martin Etcheverry or Stefanos Tsitsipas in round three.
Offner moved a break down at 3-1 in the first set before Zverev took the first set with little fuss at 6-3, with the German looking very impressive on his own serve.
The writing looked on the wall for Offner when he moved a set and a double break down at 5-2, before breaking back and claiming an impressive hold to love to claw it back to 5-4.
Despite the late wobble, Zverev sealed the match with a superb forehand to book safe passage into the next round.
Speaking after the match, Zverev said: “I lost a little of focus in the end being up by two, but that can happen. It’s the first match on a new surface this year and I’m looking forward to the next few matches.
“It’s a surface I enjoy playing and one where I hope to do well on this season.”
Draper bows out against Hurkacz
Meanwhile, Hubert Hurkacz beat Jack Draper in three sets to advance to the second round, where he will meet Roberto Bautista Agut, ending British hopes in the principality.
Having already won in Estoril last week, the world No. 8 was just too strong on the clay for Draper, who was playing his first dirt match of the season.
The Pole who made the stronger start with an early break of serve, although he didn’t exactly race to his 3-0 lead with plenty of deuce games and long rallies on display.
It was attritional stuff in the early stages, Draper’s first serve going missing and Hurkacz utilising his drop shot incredibly well. The Pole was clearly the more comfortable of the two on the heavy clay, moving with ease and chasing down everything from all angles.
Draper did manage to hold serve in the fourth game despite being break point down to get on the board, and that seemed to help his confidence levels as he managed to find some huge returns in Hurkacz’s next game. He didn’t get the break – but he did the next time around to get back on serve at 3-4.
From there it seemed it was game on in the first set, in a match that was proving every bit as tight as the last time they played on clay. Hurkacz did prevail in Monaco last year against Draper, but it took him three sets to do so.
But with the score at 5-4 to Hurkacz, Draper threw in a very costly double fault to ship the first set in the worst possible circumstances in 52 minutes.
The second set was a cagey affair, with both players holding serve slightly more comfortably. That was until a couple of errors and a lob that went long from Hurkacz gave Draper 0-40 at 2-2. Hurkacz hit a forehand well wide to ship serve, his racquet going flying in frustration to give Draper a crucial break.
The Brit would go onto restore parity and draw level after a first set point to tee up a decider in the third.
Draper moved a break down early on to trail 2-1, but held his nerve brilliantly afterwards to break back against the world No.8 and level the set at 5-5.
A tie-break beckoned, but Hurkacz comprehensive prevailed to win it 7-2.
De Minaur eases past Wawrinka
Alex de Minaur had few problems in his first round clash against Stan Wawrinka, as the Australian secured a 6-3 6-0 victory in just over an hour of plat.
The pair exchanged some early breaks, before the world No. 11 took the opening set in the space of 40 minutes by successfully using the drop shot.
De Minaur completely dominated the second set and won it with a bagel, combining accurate ground shots to both corners to move 4-0 ahead.
There was a tiny glimmer of hope for Wawrinka in the fifth game to have a break point in the bank, but the 25-year-old claimed victory after a first match point.
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