Third-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic (pictured) was full of confidence in his 6-1, 6-2 win over Spanish qualifier Oscar Hernandez at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Tuesday.
Djokovic, who holds a 170-point lead over World No. 4 Andy Murray in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings, won 70 per cent of service points and converted five of 14 break point opportunities to take his place in the third round where he will meet either Monaco wild card Jean-Rene Lisnard or Albert Montanes of Spain.
"[It was a] really good start," said Djokovic. "I didn't quite expect to perform that good, considering the fact that I didn't have any matches, singles matches, on this surface, and I had very little time to make this transition. But I was really playing aggressive and patient at the same time. This combination is really important for this surface. So hopefully I can continue."
The 21-year-old Monte-Carlo resident is making his fourth straight tournament appearance (5-3 record) and is hoping to better last year’s semi-final exit (l. to Federer) this week. A recent runner-up at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami (l. to Murray), Djokovic has a 23-8 record on the season. He captured his 12th ATP World Tour title at Dubai (d. Ferrer) in February.
Hernandez, currently No. 65 in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings, dropped to 5-9 lifetime at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments and is 4-11 on the 2009 ATP World Tour season – highlighted by a quarter-final exit in Acapulco (l. to Acasuso).
Another winner in Djokovic’s quarter of the draw was 10th-seeded David Ferrer of Spain, a four-time quarter-finalist in Monte-Carlo, who overcame compatriot Feliciano Lopez 6-2, 6-3 in 70 minutes on Court des Princes. Ferrer snapped a three-match losing streak against Lopez by recording his first win since Tokyo in October 2007. The World No. 12 improved to 18-7 on the season.
Ferrer will next meet Marc Gicquel, France’s only remaining representative in the singles draw after an exodus on Tuesday. In the early evening Florent Serra joined sixth seed Gilles Simon, ninth seed Gael Monfils and Paul-Henri Mathieu as casualties on day three, after big-serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic triumphed 6-4, 6-4.
Former ATP World No. 1 Marat Safin denied former two-time ATP World Tour Champion Lleyton Hewitt his 500th career win, which would have made the Australian one of three active players – Roger Federer (634) and Carlos Moya (573) – to have broken the mark. Safin fired 10 aces past wild card Hewitt for a 6-4, 7-5 win in one hour and 36 minutes, which tied their career series 7-7.
Hewitt captured his first ATP World Tour title since March 2007 on Sunday at Houston. Because the Houston final was delayed due to rain, Hewitt missed his flight to Europe and had to wait until Monday to fly to Nice. The 28 year old was picked up from the airport and arrived on court in the nick of time. It was his first appearance in Monte-Carlo since 2004.
Safin, No. 21 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, goes on to meet Ecuadorian qualifier Nicolas Lapentti on Wednesday.
"[Lapentti is a] tough opponent," said Safin. "We played only once nine years ago. Tough player. Got back to Top 50, I guess. He knows how to play. Has a lot of experience. We'll see how it goes. I think he's playing pretty well."
(From Website : http://www.atpworldtour.com/TENNIS/1/EN/NEWS/NEWSARTICLE_3131.ASP)
