Nole battles past Coric, sets up Monte Carlo clash with Thiem

Nadal, Nishikori brush aside rivals to reach last 16

MONTE CARLO, Principality of Monaco, April 18, (AFP): Novak Djokovic needed 10 match points to see off Borna Coric in the Monte Carlo Masters second round on Wednesday, while world number one Rafael Nadal eased past Aljaz Bedene 6-1, 6-3.

Djokovic, playing only his fourth tournament since Wimbledon last July after struggling with a right elbow injury, overcame some late nerves to win 7-6 (7/2), 7-5.

“It was a real battle. I mean, I could have won the match earlier definitely, but it was great to deal with these kind of emotions again,” said the 12-time Grand Slam champion.

Djokovic is working with long-time former coach Marian Vajda for the first time in almost a year after splitting from Andre Agassi, and the 30-year-old has looked rejuvenated in Monaco after early exits in Indian Wells and Miami.

The Serbian will next face Austrian fifth seed Dominic Thiem with a possible quarter-final against defending champion Nadal, who plays Karen Khachanov in the last 16 on Thursday, up for grabs.

But Djokovic insisted he wasn’t looking past the clash with Thiem, a French Open semifinalist in each of the last two years. “It’s disrespectful towards DomiLONDON, nic and Dominic’s tennis... To think about and talk about potentially a match-up with Nadal,” Djokovic added.

“Last year in Roland Garros he beat me in straight sets. He’s definitely (a) top-three player in the world on clay.”

Djokovic came through a tight first set in a tiebreak and moved a break clear in the second, before late drama as he tried to close out the match.

The 39th-ranked Coric saved two match points on his own serve with Djokovic leading the second set 5-3, before fighting back from 40-0 down as the former world number one struggled to get over the line.

A succession of wild backhands and a tame forehand into the net saw four more match points come and go, before Coric levelled the set at 5-5 as Djokovic blasted wide and long.

The ninth seed rediscovered his composure, though, to break again and finally complete the job at the 10th time of asking as Coric sent a backhand flying long.

Nadal started his bid for an 11th Monte Carlo title with a comfortable victory over Slovenia’s Bedene.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Croatia’s Borna Coric during their men’s singles match at

the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series tournament on April 18, in Monaco. (AFP)