Novak Djokovic made a winning return to action as he fought his way into the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters with a 7-6(5), 6-2 win over Russian qualifier Ivan Gakhov.

It was Djokovic’s first tournament in over a month as he was forced to miss the Sunshine swing—Indian Wells and Miami Open—both ATP 1000 masters events, after he was denied entry to the United States over his vaccination status.