By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, April 11, 2023

The Monte-Carlo Country Club is Novak Djokovic's dwelling coaching base.

The world No. 1's red-clay return wasn't precisely a stroll on a welcome mat in the present day.

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Playing his first match since March third and first clay-court match for the reason that Roland Garros quarterfinals final June, Djokovic defeated tough lefty qualifier Ivan Gakhov 7-6(5), 6-2 in an entertaining Monte-Carlo opener.

Facing an opponent he had by no means seen earlier than on a windy day, Djokovic mentioned afterward his hardest check was adapting to dust after a season on exhausting courts.

"Clay surface for me is the most challenging surface to adapt, you know, to get into the rhythm," Djokovic advised the media in Monte-Carlo. "Historically, I mean, throughout my career I needed one,wo weeks of tournaments to really start to play the way I want to play."

Despite three weeks of coaching on the dust, Djokovic mentioned the adrenaline of enjoying an actual match earlier than a packed crowd, mixed with unpredictable situations, will be difficult.

"Even though I trained for three weeks and I felt good playing practice points, but, you know, it's different when you play a match, especially, you know, today was quite windy on the court so not easy to find the rhythm, to have the ball right, the ball toss, and playing a lefty, playing someone that has not much to lose," Djokovic mentioned. "All these things are playing a factor in the way you feel on the court. I'm really glad I overcome the first step, because I hope things will be better and easier from this point onwards."

The two-time Monte-Carlo champion will proceed his quest to develop into the oldest champion in event historical past as he takes on an Italian opponent, both Lorenzo Musetti, who as soon as pushed the 35-year-old Serbian to 5 units at Roland Garros, or qualifier Luca Nardi subsequent. 

Djokovic mentioned what he wants most is extra match play.

"Of course that was my mentality throughout my entire career to always get better every year, every time I'd step out on the court, to have the right objectives and the right goals to work on certain things that are going to improve my game, I guess, and the way I feel on the court," Djokovic mentioned. "But, you know, with clay it's just different than other surfaces. It takes slightly more. Match play is what I need.

"Practice factors is one thing that helps, however nothing helps as enjoying an official match. So that is why I'm hoping I can have as many matches as doable this week."

Photo credit score: Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters

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