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On a profitable roll in 2021, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has issued a stern warning for his longtime rival and World No. 3 Rafael Nadal because the ATP tour enters its clay-court season. The first of three ATP Masters 1000 tournaments to be performed on clay, the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters 2021 will happen on the Monte-Carlo Nation Membership from April 11 to 18. Whereas Monte Carlo could also be Djokovic’s yard, there is just one unrivalled king of the Monte Carlo Masters, and that’s none aside from the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal.
Monte Carlo Masters 2021: Can Djokovic break the Nadal curse on clay?
Having pulled out of every of their engagements because the Australian Open in February of this 12 months, each Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will come into the Monte Carlo Masters hungry for titles. Together with his ninth Australian Open title in his bag, Djokovic can be looking out for a record-extending thirty seventh ATP Masters 1000 title. In the meantime, Nadal ought to have already dismissed his poor quarter-final run on the Australian Open and can now be aiming at equalling Djokovic with a thirty sixth Masters 1000 title.
The extra important report on the road, although, can be that if he succeeds, this can be Nadal’s twelfth title win on the Monte Carlo Masters — a report no different man has even near touching lately. However then once more, Nadal on clay isn’t a mere man however a beast. Dealing with him this 12 months can be previous champions Novak Djokovic (2013 & 2015) and Fabio Fognini (2019), together with hopefuls like World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas, No. 6 Alexander Zverev and No. 8 Andrey Rublev. The largest title lacking from the draw as of now can be Roger Federer.
The final time Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic met on clay was on the French Open remaining, 2020. To say that Djokovic was soundly overwhelmed by Rafa could be an understatement for the 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 carnage that happened. With the Rafael Nadal rating slipping all the way down to a 12 months low of No. 3 and the Novak Djokovic Grand Slams assortment sorely lacking that second Roland Garros trophy, each males will hope to get their clay seasons off to excellent begins this 12 months.
Novak Djokovic vs Nadal face to face
The Novak Djokovic vs Nadal face to face at the moment stands at 29-27 in favour of the Serbian. Approaching to clay courts, nonetheless, Nadal has a definite benefit over Djokovic, having received 18 of their 25 conferences on the floor. This contains 4 matches in Monte-Carlo — together with the 2009 and 2012 finals — in addition to the pair’s final 4 clay-court matches (2017 Madrid, 2018 & 2019 Rome and 2020 Roland Garros).
Picture Credit: Rolex MC Masters Twitter
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