Djokovic Off To A Flyer

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic got off to a flying start at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Tuesday, beating Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-1, 6-4 in 87 minutes to reach the third round.

In his first clay-court match of the season, the Serb kept Ramos-Vinolas under pressure on serve throughout, winning nearly half the points on the Spaniard’s serve and converting four of his 13 break points.

“I felt very good,” said Djokovic. “I thought, considering the amount of months that I haven’t played on the clay courts, to play against somebody that is a clay-court specialist, and win in two sets, I thought it was a very good performance. I can just take positives from today.

“Of course, the fact that I’m playing at home, in a way, because I spend a lot of time in Monte Carlo, I practise in this club over the course of 12 months, hard courts, clay courts, I know people who are doing the courts, friends with them – it really is a different and very special feeling. So I’m trying to enjoy it and see how far I can go.”

The 27-year-old Djokovic improved to a 13-match winning streak, having come into Monte-Carlo on the back of completing the March Masters sweep, with titles in Indian Wells (d. Federer) and Miami (d. Murray).

The Belgrade native has lost just two matches this season (26-2 record), also winning his eighth Grand Slam championship at the start of the year at the Australian Open (d. Murray).

Djokovic is bidding to triumph at the Monte-Carlo Country Club for the second time, following victory in 2013, when he defeated Rafael Nadal in the final; he also finished runner-up in 2009 and 2012 (l. to Nadal).

Next up for Djokovic will be Andreas Haider-Maurer, who edged Bernard Tomic 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 7-5 in just under three hours.

Tenth seed Gilles Simon set an all-French second-round clash with Benoit Paire as he beat Monegasque wild card Benjamin Balleret 6-4, 6-2.