Novak Djokovic Reaches Monte Carlo Masters Semifinals After 7-Year Hiatus
After a seven-year absence, Novak Djokovic has reclaimed his place in the semifinals of the prestigious Monte Carlo Masters. The world’s top-ranked player secured his spot in the final four with a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 victory over Australia’s Alex De Minaur on Friday.
“I am very happy to be back in the semis. It has been a while,” Djokovic expressed after the match. “The past seven, eight years have been tough for me to win seven or eight matches consecutively, but here we are, another semis.”
Despite struggling with consistency at times, the Serbian tennis legend managed to break his opponent’s serve five times, outmaneuvering De Minaur’s solid baseline game. The match was a testament to Djokovic’s endurance, as he overcame a series of breaks in the second set to seal the victory.
At 36 years old, Djokovic has become the oldest semifinalist in the tournament’s Open era, which began in 1968. His extensive experience and resilience have allowed him to maintain his dominance on the clay courts of Monte Carlo.
Looking ahead, Djokovic will face off against clay-court specialist Casper Ruud for a spot in the final. The Norwegian defeated Ugo Humbert in a three-set thriller earlier in the day.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Italian sensation Jannik Sinner overcame a stern challenge from Holger Rune to reach the semifinals for the second consecutive year. Sinner will square off against two-time champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, who cruised past Karen Khachanov in straight sets.
The Monte Carlo Masters continues to captivate tennis enthusiasts, showcasing the sport’s elite talent and the enduring excellence of legends like Novak Djokovic.
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