TIL Desk Sports/ World number one Novak Djokovic’s French Open preparations were dealt with a blow as he suffered a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 defeat by Russian Daniil Medvedev in the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals on Friday. Djokovic, a two-time champion in Monte Carlo, roared back to level the contest after dropping the first set but that did not prevent the 23-year-old Medvedev from claiming the biggest victory of his career.
Medvedev had lost each of his previous three encounters against Djokovic but on this occasion broke his Serbian opponent’s serve five times to move into the final four.”He’s got a very solid backhand. He hits it very low and with depth,” Djokovic said. Second seed Rafael Nadal was forced to work hard for his 18th straight match win at the Monte Carlo Country Club as he fought back to beat Argentina Guido Pella 7-6(1), 6-3.
The 11-times champion made a sluggish start and was one point away from 1-5 deficit in the opening set but recovered well to convert seven of his 13 break-point opportunities and advance after two hours and 20 minutes. Nadal will meet 13th seed Fabio Fognini, who rode through a poor start to upset No. 9 Borna Coric 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 in Friday’s final match. “It was a very tough first set physically and mentally, too. Losing the first three games with my serve was tough. But I found a way at the right time,” world number two Nadal said.
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