Live in the ticker: Novak Djokovic makes a comeback at the Masters in Monte Carlo against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

It is the third meeting in the career of Novak Djokovic and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The previous duels were always a clear thing for the Serbs.

At the Clay Court Masters in Rome, the world number one clearly won 6:2, 6:1. A few weeks later at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, things didn’t look much different with a 6:3, 6:1 win.

The game is the third on Center Court. The game is expected to start around 3:30 p.m. in the afternoon.

Here you are at the match between Novak Djokovic and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the live ticker.

Center Court: Novak Djokovic (SRB/1) – Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) – 3: 6, 7: 6 (7: 5)

5:56 p.m. – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3: 6, 7: 6, 0: 1

Djokovic’s start in set three couldn’t have been worse. After both players had initially left the field, the Serb served at the beginning and had breakball against himself after a serious backhand error. A double fault follows. And again Davidovich Fokina has a break lead.

5:43 p.m. – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3: 6, 7: 6

Backhand error by Davidovich Fokina. Djokovic gets the mini break back. 4: 4 in the tie-break. At the score of 5:5, Davidovich Fokina is unlucky. The ball jumps, he only hits it with the frame and Djokovic has set ball. And then the world number one shines on the defensive, pulls out a great passing ball and gets the through!

5:37 p.m. – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3: 6, 6: 6

Mini-break on both sides in the early stages of the tie-break. And with a score of 3: 2 for Davidovich Fokina, Djokovic hits the backhand. 4: 2 for the Spaniard when changing sides.

5:32 p.m. – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3: 6, 6: 6

Djokovic serves against the loss of the match. And after a great forehand from Davidovich Fokina down the line, the score is 30:30. Djokovic keeps the overview despite a mixed attack and scores with the volley to 40:30. With the service winner, the Serb gets the point for the tie-break.

5:26 p.m. – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3: 6, 5: 6

And this time Davidovich Fokina does not goof. The Spaniard shines with some strong backhand hits, keeps Djokovic in check and scores 6: 5. Only one game win separates him from the round of 16.

5:22 p.m. – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3: 6, 5: 5

But after several slight mistakes by Djokovic, Davidovich Fokina suddenly has two break chances again. Neither player is doing really well at the moment. After a strong return from the Spaniard, the Serb slips his forehand off the baseline and the score is 5:5.

5:22 p.m. – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3: 6, 5: 5

But after several slight mistakes by Djokovic, Davidovich Fokina suddenly has two break chances again. Neither player is doing really well at the moment. After a strong return from the Spaniard, the Serb slips his forehand off the baseline and the score is 5:5.

5:17 p.m. – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3: 6, 5: 4

Djokovic equalized to 4: 4 without any effort. A very important service game by Davidovich Fokina follows. And after a double fault it’s 0:30. Then he serves the next double fault and suddenly Djokovic has three break chances. It follows double fault number three in a row! That is impossible. Djokovic gets the break with zero, and without having to contribute much to it.

17:08 – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3:6, 3:4

For the first time ever in this match, Davidovich Fokina becomes too passive. Djokovic takes advantage of this, forces him to make a mistake and gets two breakballs. And then the Spaniard slips up at the stop. Only 4: 3 for the outsider.

5:04 p.m. – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3: 6, 2: 4

Djokovic hits the smash in the net. Break point for Davidovich Fokina. But then the Serb puts pressure on the forehand and forces his opponent to make a mistake. But the next slight mistake in the overhead ball follows. Again breakball against Djokovic. Davidovich Fokina shines with a wonderful stop and he regains the break lead.

4:55 p.m. – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3: 6, 2: 3

Djokovic wins his first service game in the second set and reduces to 1: 3. That was the Serb’s first clear play of the entire match. And then Davidovich Fokina blunders with his forehand from the half-field and has two breakballs against him. Again the Spaniard beats the forehand and it’s all back in set two.

4:49 p.m. – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3: 6, 0: 3

It is now the best phase in the match. Djokovic has gotten stronger and shines with some nice winners. But Davidovich Fokina strongly opposes it. And he brings his hard-fought service game through to 3-0. The Spaniard is still on course for the round of 16, but it’s only a break lead. So nothing is decided.

4:42 p.m. – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3: 6, 0: 2

Davidovich Fokina is not good with the ball with a backhand, makes the mistake and has to go over the debut. Djokovic catches his opponent on the wrong foot at the net and gets the break ball, which he cannot use. Then Davidovich Fokina risks the serve from below, but then blunders with the lob and has breakball against him again. He counters with a great stop. With a very strong longline, Djokovic gets break chance number three, but again his opponent shines in defense.

4:35 p.m. – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3: 6, 0: 2

After a double fault, Djokovic has breakball against himself again. The world number one has not had a single sovereign service game. And then the best rally of the match so far ends with a forehand mistake by Djokovic. Another break for Davidovich Fokina.

16:27 – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3: 6, 0: 1

Djokovic is now putting pressure on the forehand, forcing his opponent to make a mistake and grabbing a break ball early in the second set. But he vegribt that with another very bad stop. But that can also be due to the fact that a strong gust of wind blew across the square. Davidovich Fokina still gets his service game to make it 1-0.

16:20 – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3:6

After Djokovic’s 15th unforced error, Davidovich Fokina has set ball. And then Djokovic pulls the forehand out of the half-field. Davidovich Fokina deservedly got the first round with 6:3.

4:15 p.m. – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3:5

It’s a bit tough phase of the game at the moment, because Davidovich Fokina doesn’t quite have the pressure and accuracy of the initial phase anymore. But the Spaniard gets his important service through to 5: 3 and sniffs at winning the set.

16:10 – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 3:4

But Djokovic hasn’t had a single safe service game yet. After a forehand error, he has to go over the debut again. However, he wins service after a serve winner. 3: 4 still from Djokovic’s point of view. And that’s a very flattering position from the point of view of the world number one. Basically, Davidovich Fokina could have already won the set.

16:05 – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 2:4

But now Djokovic briefly flashes his class. With a very strong longline he gets two break chances. And the first uses the favorite with a winner from the demimonde. At least one service game has brought back the number one in the world.

4:00 p.m. – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 1:4

Davidovich Fokina mercilessly exploits Djokovic’s stop too high and scores from the T-line. Again the Serb has to go through debut. And with a forehand cracker, the Spaniard gets the next breakball. Djokovic also acts too passively, lets his opponent do the game, and he finally converts the pass to 4: 1.

15:54 – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 1:3

Not much is coming together at Djokovic yet. The world number one is looking for his rhythm and makes a lot of mistakes. In contrast, Davidovich Fokina acts powerfully and placed. Twelve of the last 14 points went to the Spaniard.

15:50 – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 1:2

Brilliant backhand pass on Davidovich Fokina’s return. Two breakballs for the Spaniard. And then Djokovic completely fails a stop attempt. The ball starves on the way to the net. Break for the outsider to 2:1.

15:47 – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 1-1

Davidovich Fokina has significantly less trouble than his opponent at the beginning. Also thanks to well-placed first service games, the Iberian gets his service to 1: 1.

15:42 – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina – 1-0

Difficult first service game by Djokovic. The favorite must go above debut. And with the smash on the net, Davidovich Fokina gets the first break chance. But his opponent defends it with a volley at the net. Djokovic’s forehand error to breakkball number two follows, but Davidovich Fokina carelessly forgives it. Djokovic still gets the service to make it 1-0.

15:34 – Djokovic – Davidovich Fokina

The two actors are playing together at the moment. Davidovich Fokina won the election, choosing kickback. Djokovic opens with his own serve.

3:30 p.m. – Zverev successful in doubles

Alexander Zverev has reached the next round in doubles. At the same time as his Brazilian partner Marcelo Melo, he defeated Jannik Sinner and Hubert Hurkacz 6:4, 6:3.

INFO – Djokovic the clear favorite

The record speaks for Djokovic. The Serb has won both previous duels against Davidovich Fokina. Both at the Italian Open in Rome and at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo last year, the Spaniard never even came close to winning a set.

INFO – Harsh criticism of Djokovic

Former world number one Marcelo Rios criticized Djokovic before the start of the Masters in Monte Carlo. The background is the Serbs’ decision not to be vaccinated against Corona. Rios shows little understanding for this. “He’s too arrogant,” said the Chilean. But the 46-year-old didn’t stop there.

INFO – Welcome

Welcome to the second round match between Novak Djokovic and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the Masters in Monte Carlo. The game is expected to start in the afternoon CEST. The match is the third game on Center Court.