05 May,2022 08:17 AM IST | Madrid | AFP
Novak Djokovic. Pics/Getty Images
Top seed Novak Djokovic described his straight-sets opening win over Gael Monfils at Madrid Open on Tuesday as his "best performance of the year" as he set up a showdown with Andy Murray.
The 20-time major champion ensured he would keep his number one ranking for at least another week by extending his winning record against Monfils with a 6-3, 6-2 victory at the Caja Magica. Djokovic, who entered the contest 17-0 head-to-head against the Frenchman, needed a win in their second round match to avoid surrendering the top spot to second-placed Daniil Medvedev. "I would probably rate it as the best performance of the year, I would say. I felt very good on the court," said Djokovic.
"I'm very pleased, considering, you know, that up to today I was not playing my best tennis in the few tournaments that I played this year and still kind of finding my rhythm, finding my groove."
Djokovic had to save two break points as he served for the match before he booked a last-16 clash with Murray, a 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 winner against Canadian 14th seed Denis Shapovalov.
Carlos Alcaraz won his first match as a top-10 player, opening his Madrid account with a 6-3, 7-5 triumph over Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Sixth seed Andrey Rublev needed to rally from 0-3 down in the decider to overcome British wildcard Jack Draper 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina produced a gritty performance to eke past US Open champion Emma Raducanu 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 and reach the quarter-finals of a WTA 1000 event for the first time.
Meanwhile, Ons Jabeur marched into the semi-finals of the Madrid Open with a crushing 6-3, 6-2 win over former World No.1 Simona Halep.
Reigning Madrid Open champion Alexander Zverev began his title defence on Wednesday with a tough three-set win against Marin Cilic. The German fired 11 aces and hit his heavy groundstrokes with more authority in the second and third sets to maintain his strong record against the Croatian, advancing 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
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