Djokovic edges past De Minaur in close match at Monte-Carlo Masters, advances to semis

Monaco, April 12 (IANS) Novak Djokovic continues his impressive performance at the Monte-Carlo Masters, moving closer to completing his third sweep of all nine ATP Masters 1000 titles. The World No. 1 advanced to the semifinals after defeating Australian Alex de Minaur in a hard-fought match.

In a tight battle on the clay court, Djokovic secured a 7-5, 6-4 victory over De Minaur, avenging his recent loss to the Australian in the United Cup. The Serbian star, who became the oldest No. 1 in ATP Rankings history last Sunday, is now just two wins away from claiming his 41st ATP Masters 1000 title and completing the historic sweep.

Despite appearing breathless and facing tough moments on Court Rainier III, Djokovic showcased his trademark resilience and capitalized on De Minaur’s errors to seal the win. The match saw a total of seven breaks of serve in the second set, with Djokovic managing to break De Minaur in the 10th game to secure victory.

Having previously won the Monte-Carlo Masters in 2013 and 2015, Djokovic is now looking to add another title to his collection. With his first title of the year on the line, the top seed will face either Frenchman Ugo Humbert or Norwegian Casper Ruud in the semifinals on Saturday. Djokovic’s quest for tennis greatness continues as he aims for another milestone in his illustrious career.