In twin shocks, the 2016 Monte Carlo Masters lost both its 2015 finalists as top seed Novak Djokovic as well as sixth seed Tomas Berdych departed in the second round on Wednesday. The defending champion Djokovic’s 4-6, 6-2, 4-6 loss to 55th ranked Jiri Vesely was all the more surprising as he was on a 14-match winning streak coming into this tournament and was considered the unanimous favourite for the title.
Overall, this is just the second defeat of the season for the Serb with his first loss coming via a retirement in the quarter-finals of Dubai against Feliciano Lopez. This also marks the first time the World No. 1 has lost to someone ranked outside the top 50 since succumbing to the 74th ranked Xavier Malisse at the Queen’s Club in 2010.
Berdych, who stretched the 11-time Grand Slam winner to three sets in the final last year, battled back after losing the first set to Bosnian qualifier Damir Dzumhur. The Czech had five break points in the decider but he could not capitalize on any of them whereas all Dzumhur needed was one break point which he duly converted to send Berdych packing, 6-4, 6(1)-7, 6-3.
Strong start for Rafa
Eight-time winner Rafael Nadal had no such problems as he cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 win over Briton Aljaz Bedene. This is the Spaniard’s 54th victory at the Monte Carlo Country Club.
In his quest for a record-equalling 28th Masters crown, the fifth seed has a tough job as he next meets his Buenos Aires conqueror, Dominic Thiem of Austria. The 12th seed lost the first set to qualifier Taro Daniel but came back strongly to prevail 4-6, 6-2, 6-0.
Straight-sets win for Wawrinka
Another former winner, Stan Wawrinka too booked his berth in the Round of 16. In a showdown between two single-handed backhand players, it was the reigning Roland Garros champion who came through 7-6(2), 7-5 over Philipp Kohlschreiber. Awaiting next for the Swiss is Gilles Simon.
Ninth seed Richard Gasquet was another top star to make the exit on Wednesday as he slumped to a 6-4, 5-7, 1-6 defeat to 22-year-old compatriot Lucas Pouille. The Frenchman next goes on to meet another of his senior countryman – the eighth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
10th seed Milos Raonic and 11th seed David Goffin had to go the extra mile to confirm their places in the pre-quarter-finals. While Raonic subdued the dangerous Pablo Cuevas 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(5), the in-form Goffin showed his resilience in a 7-6(2), 2-6, 7-6(1) triumph over former runner-up Fernando Verdasco.
It was, however, the end of the road for the rising 18-year-old Alexander Zverev, who bowed out 4-6, 6-4, 3-6 to lucky loser Marcel Granollers. The young German was earlier supposed to face David Ferrer in the second round but the Spaniard pulled out on Tuesday due to a calf injury and was replaced by Granollers.
What is the foot injury that has troubled Rafael Nadal over the years? Check here
