Djokovic and Federer Join Monte Carlo Final Eight

April 17, 2014 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Thursday play at the Monte Carlo Masters continued to go as many expected, as Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer both cruised to victories and spots in the quarterfinals.

Djokovic moved one step closer to defending his title by advancing to the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters late Thursday morning, with very little trouble in his win over Pablo Carreno Busta, taking just 47 minutes and losing only one game in a 6-0, 6-1 victory. Djokovic now moves on to the round of eight, where he will take on the winner of the match between Tomas Berdych and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

Djokovic won the Monte Carlo title last year as he dethroned Rafael Nadal, who had won the event eight consecutive years from 2005-2012.

Roger Federer also advanced to the quarterfinals, defeating Czech Lukas Rosol 6-4, 6-1. Federer faced a little adversity in the first set, however, as Rosol broke serve and held his own to take a 3-1 lead.

Federer was able to recover and broke back to even the set. Federer eventually ran away from Rosol and clinched the match when Rosol’s returns were too long.

Federer, who did not participate in this event for the past two years, is now one of eight players remaining in the tournament. He will face off with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who defeated Fabio Fognini 5-7, 6-3, 6-0 earlier in the day.

“I've seen Jo play different kind of quality matches lately, so not quite sure he's going to play, how aggressive, how passive," Federer said. "I'm going to have to have an open mind."

Federer leads Tsonga 10-4 in 14 career meetings, beating Tsonga in the fourth round of the Australian Open in January in their most recent meeting.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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