Djokovic earns another Masters

His win in Monte Carlo gives him an edge for French Open

MONACO — Even when Novak Djokovic doesn’t play very well, he manages to win titles.

Despite hitting 38 unforced errors in a back-and forth match, the top-ranked Serb won the first big clay-court tournament of the season with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 win over Tomas Berdych in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters.

It was Djokovic’s second triumph in three years in the principality, where he lives with his wife and kid, and his 11th straight win in a final.

“In the end, I’m sitting here with this trophy that is very special to me, of course,” the Australian Open champion said. “This is what matters. Sometimes winning ugly is necessary. It’s been a remarkable start of the season for me.”

Djokovic, who has lost only two matches in 2015, became the first player in tennis history to win the first three Masters tournament of the year after completing the Indian Wells-Miami sweep this spring.

“The fact that now I won three Masters in a row, that nobody ever has done that … that has given me, even this week, more motivation,” he said.

Djokovic’s next big goal is to win the French Open, the only major tournament missing from his collection.

“I think the most important period of the year is coming up right now,” Djokovic said. “Obviously Roland Garros and Wimbledon are the priority.”

FED CUP: In Brindisi, Italy, Serena Williams thought she was ready for the clay-court season. As it turns out, the top-ranked player still has a long way to go toward finding the form that could propel her to a 20th Grand Slam title at the French Open.

“Today has been a big eye opener,” Williams said after coming back from a set down to post a windy, error-filled 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3 win over Sara Errani on Sunday in a Fed Cup playoff against Italy.

Brindisi-born Flavia Pennetta then routed 65th-ranked Christina McHale 6-1, 6-1 and Pennetta and Errani beat Williams and Alison Riske 6-0, 6-3 in the decisive doubles match to give Italy a 3-2 win.

“I need to go home and really train,” Williams said.