Novak Djokovic’s Undefeated Streak Against Gael Monfils in Cincinnati Masters

Cincinnati (USA), The Serbian Novak Djokovic He increased his record against the Frenchman Gael Monfils to 19-0 this Thursday, which is the longest undefeated streak against a single rival in the Open era, and qualified for the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Masters 1,000.

Djokovic, number two in the world, did not give an option to Monfils, number 211, who was playing the Cincinnati tournament with a protected ranking.

Djokovic’s 19-0 record against Monfils leaves behind the mark of Spanish Rafa Nadal against Frenchman Richard Gasquet, who currently stands at 18-0.

In a match between veterans, both 36 years old, the Serbian won 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and eight minutes, on a center court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center almost completely full to attend the match.

Djokovic’s perfect streak against Monfils began thirteen years ago, at the 2005 US Open, when the Serb won in four sets.

Before the two players entered the ATP Tour, Monfils had managed to beat Djokovic, but he never managed to repeat himself as a professional.

Djokovic denied him two titles, at Paris Bercy 2009 and at Eastburne 2017, and also knocked him down on the Cincinnati track in the 2011 quarterfinals.

And if the Serbian emerges as absolute dominator against Monfils, his concrete numbers are even tougher, with a balance of 17 sets to nil.

Monfils, who had just played the quarterfinals at the Masters 1,000 in Toronto, after beating Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, paid a single break in the first set and delivered his serve immediately in the second, which opened the way for Djokovic to a solid win.

The Serbian advanced without particular difficulties, after overcoming the first round due to the withdrawal of the Spanish Alejandro Davidovich Fokina due to a back problem.

His next rival, in the quarterfinals, will be the American Taylor Fritz, number nine in the world, who advanced without playing due to the withdrawal of Serbian Dusan Lajovic.

Djokovic returns to compete in the United States for the first time in the last two years. Before this year’s edition in Cincinnati, his last match dated back to the 2021 US Open final, when the Serb fell to Russian Daniil Medvedev.

In these two years, Djokovic was not part of the American tours of Indian Wells and Miami (March and April), nor of those in August, due to his refusal to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The United States government last April lifted the vaccine obligation for non-residents and non-citizens to enter the country.

Djokovic faces the Cincinnati tournament, of which he was champion in 2018 and 2020, as the last tournament before returning to Flushing Meadows for the US Open.

If he advances in Cincinnati, the Serbian could meet the German Alexander Zverev in a hypothetical semifinal, while he would not meet the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz until the eventual final.

Alcaraz will play his quarterfinal match against the Australian Max Purcell this Friday.

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