Djokovic emerged victorious against Safiullin to advance to the third round with his eyes set on another Masters-1000 championship.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal (in circle – Djokovic with Carlos Sainz Jr.) [Images via IMAGO, X]
The current world number one had an impressive start to his clay season. Competing as the top seed in the tournament, he easily defeated his opponent in the second round, losing only three games in a straight sets victory.
Given that the event takes place in Monaco, it is not uncommon to see many celebrities present to enjoy some tennis action. Formula 1 drivers, in particular, are often seen at the games, as many of them reside in the area.
Mercedes driver [name] was recently spotted at the tournament with his partner. Later, he was joined by Ferrari’s [name] for a visit to the tournament site. The Spaniard even had the opportunity to meet Djokovic, and the two engaged in a friendly conversation.
During the exchange, Nole asked Sainz if he had ever played tennis. The 29-year-old quickly admitted to having a weak backhand and an average forehand. He also joked that his volleying skills were below average, to which Djokovic jokingly responded, teasing [players’ names].
Sainz took the comment in stride, and the two were seen posing for photos together. Djokovic signed Sainz’s bottle and expressed his gratitude for his support. He also wished him success in his future endeavors, considering his outstanding performance and his upcoming departure from Ferrari at the end of the season.
Following his victory over Safiullin, Djokovic will now face the young Italian player [name] in the third round. In a surprising turn of events, Musetti defeated [player’s name] 6-4, 6-4 in the first round. He continued his winning streak with a 6-3, 7-5 triumph over [player’s name], setting up the clash against Djokovic.
Nole suffered consecutive losses to [player’s name] in the 2023 Davis Cup and in the semifinals of [tournament name] this year. He then faced a major upset when the then world number 123 [player’s name] defeated him in the third round of the 2024 Indian Wells Masters.
This led to a theory suggesting that the 24-time Grand Slam singles winner struggles against Italian players. When asked about it in a press conference, Djokovic responded shortly. With a 3-1 advantage in their head-to-head matches, the Serbian will seek to defeat Musetti easily and advance to the fourth round.
