In pictures: Novak Djokovic trains with Jiri Lehecka in Monte-Carlo

Novak Djokovic hit the practice court with Czech player Jiri Lehecka ahead of the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters. The Serbian great also had a reunion of sorts with Tomas Berdych, who is part of Lehecka's team in Monte-Carlo.

Djokovic was accompanied by Goran Ivanisevic, who is his coach. The two star-studded teams were seen in discussion during the training session. Lehecka, who reached the Australian Open quarterfinals, has been in good form so far this season. The Czech player, currently at 41 in the ATP rankings, took to social media to share a glimpse from his training session with the world No. 1.

Swipe to see another picture from the training session:

Djokovic returned to the world No. 1 position as Carlos Alcaraz was unable to defend his title at the Miami Open last week. He now has a chance to extend his lead at the top of the rankings as he will defend only 10 points in Monte-Carlo next week. Additionally, Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal are both set to miss Monte-Carlo, making the Serb the clear favorite to win the title.

The 35-year-old, who has won the Monte-Carlo title twice, is looking for his first title there since 2015. He lost in the second round last season with a defeat at the hands of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

How Novak Djokovic fared in the 2022 claycourt season

The Serbian star won the Internazionali BNL D'Italia 2022.

After starting his 2022 claycourt season with an early loss in Monte-Carlo, Novak Djokovic reached the final of the Serbia Open, his home ATP tournament. He then reached the semifinals of the Madrid Masters, where he lost to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz. The two-time Grand Slam champion then found his best form at the Italian Open and ended up beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final to clinch the title.

Djokovic reached the quarterfinals of the French Open without dropping a set. He then lost to Rafael Nadal in four sets.

The Monte-Carlo resident has already won two titles this season, at the Adelaide International 1 and the Australian Open, respectively. He then reached the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships, where he lost to Daniil Medvedev for his first loss of the season. He was then forced to miss Indian Wells and the Miami Open for the second time in a row as an unvaccinated foreigner, with the vaccine mandate still in place in the United States.