Novak Djokovic jokes with Casper Ruud: 'You weren't so good final yr'

Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud will play their first Monte Carlo Masters matches on Wednesday. The Serb is going through Alejandro Tabilo within the second spherical whereas the Norwegian awaits the winner of the first-round conflict between Roberto Bautista Agut and Brandon Nakashima.

Novak and Casper met exterior the courts within the Principality throughout the media day. The 2023 Roland Garros ultimate rivals exchanged good phrases, with Djokovic cracking jokes, as standard. Novak reminded Casper he was not so good to him throughout final yr’s semi-final.

Djokovic and Ruud battled for a spot within the ultimate in Monte Carlo 12 months in the past. The Norwegian defeated the legend for the primary time in his profession, incomes a 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 victory in two hours and 17 minutes for his first top-3 triumph.

Novak collected 11 factors greater than his rival due to a dominant efficiency within the second set. They each offered 4 breaks, and Casper emerged on the prime with a late one within the ultimate set. Ruud clinched an early break within the first recreation of the match with a forehand winner.

Casper Ruud, Monte Carlo 2024© Stream screenshot

He served effectively in video games two and 4 to open a 3-1 hole. Djokovic missed one other forehand within the fifth recreation, dropping serve for the second time and sending his rival additional in entrance. Novak pulled one break again within the sixth recreation and closed the seventh with a serve & volley combo.

Casper moved 5-3 up with an ace and served for the opener at 5-4. He produced a high-quality maintain and clinched the opener 6-4 in 50 minutes, incomes his first set in opposition to Novak. Djokovic served at 24% within the second set, and nobody might discover that.

Novak Djokovic, Monte Carlo 2024© Stream screenshot

He performed in opposition to no break factors and saved the strain on the opposite facet. Ruud hit a free forehand within the second recreation and dropped serve. The Serb held at love within the subsequent one for 3-0 and clinched the fifth recreation with a drop shot winner.

Casper sprayed three double faults within the sixth recreation, shedding serve once more and falling 5-1 behind. Novak served for the set in recreation seven and closed it with a service winner, clinching the second a part of the duel and forcing a decider after an hour and 28 minutes.

The Norwegian left the second set behind and made a recent begin within the decider. He earned a break likelihood within the second recreation with a backhand winner and seized it after the Serb’s forehand error for a 2-0 benefit. Casper served effectively in video games three and 5 to open a 4-1 hole.

Djokovic made the ultimate push and erased the deficit with three straight video games. The 2-time champion pulled the break again at love in recreation seven and held for 4-4. Rune held for 5-4 and welcomed the rival’s double fault in recreation ten to seal the deal and celebrated a notable victory.