Novak Djokovic began the European clay-court swing began much as he would wish to end it: with victory over a combative southpaw possessed of a heavy topspin forehand straight out of the Spanish school.
Ivan Gakhov, a Russian qualifier ranked just inside the top 200, is no Rafael Nadal, and the Monte Carlo Country Club offers a more intimate, low-key setting than Roland Garros, but a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 victory nonetheless provided Djokovic with a valuable early test on the red dirt as he returned to competition for the first time in almost six weeks.
Rarely at his best in the early stages of the clay-court swing, Djokovic was given a stern first-set examination by the free-swinging Gakhov, who drove the Serbian world No 1 to distraction with his huge forehands, vicious underspin drop shots and inspired defensive play.
As fourth alternate for the qualifying competition, it is a minor miracle Gakhov even made it on to court in Monaco at all. But a spate of late withdrawals opened the door, and after defeating a pair of higher-ranked players to secure a place in the main draw of a Masters event for the first time, the 26-year-old was determined to make the most of the opportunity.
Having claimed the first tour-level win of his career against Mackenzie McDonald, the big-hitting American who defeated Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open, Gakohov gave a no less admirable account of himself against Djokovic, delivering a performance that evoked memories of the Serb’s early loss to Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina last year.
Djokovic avoided a similar fate this time around partly by immediately reclaiming a potentially pivotal break in the seventh game of the opener, and partly by raising his level in the ensuing tiebreak, which gave him the platform for an improved second-set showing. As the two-time champion conceded afterwards, it was “an ugly tennis win”.
“I knew he was a left-handed player, and I haven’t actually practised with left-handed players for a few weeks,” said Djokovic. “So it took some adjustment to return the serve and to deal with the heavy topspin from his forehand.
“Very good player. I think that he plays a little bit atypical for a Russian guy, but I heard he has been training and living in Spain for quite a long time, so I can see why he’s been successful on clay. Credit to him for playing some really good tennis in the first set.”
The first signs that Gakhov might pose problems came in the fifth game, where Djokovic was obliged to fend off a pair of break points. He did so courtesy of a big serve and some resilient play from the baseline, a 22-stroke rally ending with the Russian firing a backhand long, but such moments were far from representative of his performance in a set where he landed just 54% of his first serves and made 17 unforced errors.
Nonetheless, the lunging drop volley with which Djokovic cemented the hold suggested he was warming to his task. In the next game, he earned a couple of break points of his own with some typically obdurate defensive play, only for Gakhov to serve his way out of trouble. Suitably emboldened, the Russian subsequently smoked a brilliant forehand winner to set up another opportunity to break before prising a forehand error from the top seed with a low slice. Djokovic looked dismayed, his growing concern evident in the frequent glances he cast towards his support team, and although he broke back immediately, he cut an increasingly animated figure as the opener drew to a conclusion.
When Gakhov began the second set by scrambling to retrieve a seemingly unreachable return before racing in to slide a delicate angled backhand past the bemused Djokovic, the contest looked set to continue in similar vein. But a double fault on break point in the fifth game sounded the death knell on the qualifier’s challenge, Djokovic seizing control of the match to keep his quest for a record-extending 39th Masters title on course.
“Clay, for me, is the most challenging surface to adapt to,” said Djokovic. “I’m a player who needs more time, more matches or weeks to adapt on clay to really have the good feelings and the good rhythm I need on that surface.”
Having missed Indian Wells and Miami due to US border restrictions, which prevent foreign travellers from entering the United States without a Covid vaccination, Djokovic will be grateful for the opportunity to get those matches. He will face either Lorenzo Musetti or Luca Nardi, both of Italy, for a place in the last eight.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, the defending champion, later advanced to round three after Benjamin Bonzi, the French world No 48, was forced to retire with a wrist injury while trailing 4-1.
“Happy to be back on the terre bateau of Monte Carlo,” said Tsitsipas. “It’s a very unique location and I’m happy this is the time of the year we get to play on these courts. It brings back very good memories.
“It’s very unfortunate what happened out there for my opponent. I wish him the best moving forward.”
The Greek will face either Nicolas Jarry of Chile or Australia’s Alexei Popyrin next.