Novak Djokovic made his return to tennis last week in Monte Carlo, after more than a month-long absence. Unable to enter the United States because of his unvaccinated status, the 22-time major champ didn’t participate in either of the Sunshine Double events in Indian Wells and Miami.
In Monte Carlo, Djokovic’s first event of the clay season, he won his first match — then fell in the Round of 16 to Lorenzo Musetti, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. But he was pragmatic about the state of his game on clay even ahead of the loss.
“Maybe for some other guys it’s more natural, I guess it’s easier for them to adjust to this surface, to the movement, to the ball striking, in a way finding the right tempo on the shots,” Djokovic said during a press conference in Monte Carlo. “Match play is what I need. Practice points is something that helps, but nothing helps as [much as] playing an official match.”
Djokovic will next play in this week’s Srpska Open in Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina. He is slated to face Luca Van Assche — who earned the first top 100 victory of his career on Monday over Stan Wawrinka — on Wednesday.
And Djokovic is just one of the many compelling figures in the sport right now. It was an eventful week, on and off the court. Here’s what you missed and what to know going forward.
The drama of Monte Carlo
With Djokovic’s return, and Andrey Rublev taking the title in three hard-fought sets over Holger Rune, it was a memorable week in Monte Carlo. But that’s not what everyone is still talking about. Instead, it’s the off-the-court squabble between Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev that is almost giving “Vanderpump Rules” a run for its money. (Please don’t @ me, I said almost.)
During a spirited Round of 16 match, which saw Medvedev save two match points to win in a third-set tiebreak, Zverev was none-too-pleased to what he perceived to be tactical antics throughout from his opponent. Medvedev removed a net pole during the second set, took an unsanctioned bathroom break in the decider and shushed the crowd at one point.
Never change, Daniil 😂@DaniilMedwed #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/RhNaigN0Gn
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 13, 2023
During a postmatch interview, Zverev called Medvedev, “one of the most unfair players in the world” and said he was “extremely disappointed” in his behavior.
And that, my friends, is just the beginning.
After Medvedev lost to Rune in the quarterfinals the following day, he mocked Zverev’s handshake from the…
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