World number one Novak Djokovic cruised past Roman Safiullin 6-1, 6-2 at the Monte-Carlo Masters, advancing to the third round for the 14th time in the Principality.
Arriving in Monte-Carlo without a title this season, Djokovic, the top seed from Serbia, had his sights set on a strong performance. Despite his previous struggles to progress beyond the quarter-finals in Monte-Carlo, the Serbian hoped to turn the tide this week.
In his debut match as the oldest World No. 1 in ATP Rankings history at 36 years old, Djokovic showcased his dominance against Safiullin. Employing precise shot depth, he forced his opponent into numerous errors, clinching victory in just one hour and 10 minutes, as reported by ATP.
Adjusting swiftly to the challenging conditions following morning rain, Djokovic dominated from the outset. He swiftly secured a 4-0 lead in the opening set, wrapping it up in 33 minutes. His command continued into the second set, concluding the match with a remarkable 16-9 winner to unforced error count.
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A two-time champion in Monte-Carlo, triumphing in 2013 and 2015, Djokovic’s next challenge will be against Lorenzo Musetti in the third round. Musetti, who defeated Arthur Fils 6-3, 7-5, previously caused an upset against Djokovic at the same stage last season.
In other notable matches, Djokovic’s compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic halted Matteo Berrettini’s winning streak. Kecmanovic dispatched the Marrakech champion Berrettini 6-3, 6-1 in 75 minutes, setting up a third-round showdown with Grigor Dimitrov.
