Djokovic continues mastery of Monfils to reach Cincinnati quarter-finals

Novak Djokovic improved to 19-0 lifetime in his main-tour head-to-head series with Gael Monfils when the world No 2 prevailed 6-3, 6-2 at the Western & Southern Open on Thursday night. Djokovic needed just one hour and eight minutes to set up a quarter-final showdown against Taylor Fritz.

“He made quite a few unforced errors at 4-3 to hand me the break,” the 36-year-old Serb commented. “After that there was no looking back for me. I started to raise the level even more– almost a flawless second set…. It’s definitely one of the quickest hard-court conditions we have on tour around the world here in Cincinnati. The ball is really bouncy; really alive. If you serve well and hit your spots well it gives you a great advantage over your opponent.

“Today I served much better than yesterday. Hopefully I can keep it going.”

Djokovic benefited from the retirement of Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (6-4, 0-0) in the previous round of the Cincinnati Masters

It was still a decent week for Monfils, who ousted No 13 seed Cameron Norrie (3-6, 6-4, 6-3) and Toronto runner-up Alex De Minaur (7-5, 6-4).

Cincinnati Masters, other last 16 results:

• Taylor Fritz beat Dusan Lajovic (Q): 5-0 ret.
• Max Purcell (Q) beat Stan Wawrinka (WC): 6-4, 6-2
• Carlos Alcaraz (1) beat Tommy Paul (14): 7-6 (6), 6-7, 6-3
• Adrian Mannarino beat Mackenzie McDonald (WC): 6-4, 3-0 ret.
• Hubert Hurkacz beat Stefanos Tsitsipas (4): 6-3, 6-4
• Alexander Zverev (16) beat Daniil Medvedev (3): 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
• Alexei Popyrin (LL) beat Emil Ruusuvuori: 6-2, 1-6, 6-3

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