Djokovic breezes through in Monte Carlo

World number one Novak Djokovic eased into the European claycourt season with a comfortable win over Spanish qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas at the Monte Carlo Masters.

Clad in an orange shirt roughly the same colour as the scenic Centre Court overlooking the Mediterranean, the 2013 champion got straight down to business, winning 6-1, 6-4.

The 27-year-old Serb raced through the first five games before Ramos-Vinolas offered some resistance to provide a useful workout for the man hoping to complete a career grand slam at the French Open which starts next month.

Elsewhere, Gilles Simon beat Monaco’s Benjamin Balleret 6-4 6-2 while 11th-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was equally untroubled by Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, winning 6-4, 6-4.

Gael Monfils was just pleased to come through a tough three-setter against Russian Andrey Kuznetsov without any physical problems after he hurt his hip at the Miami Masters and was forced to retire hurt against Tomas Berdych.

“I was happy the way I moved a couple days ago. I was happy the way I moved today,” Monfils, who won 4-6 6-3 6-4 told reporters. 

Results:

Viktor Troicki (Serbia) beat Martin Klizan (Slovakia) 7-6(5) 5-7 6-2

Gilles Simon (France) beat Benjamin Balleret (Monaco) 6-4 6-2

Tommy Robredo (Spain) beat Andreas Seppi (Italy) 6-3 1-6 6-4

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) beat Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) 6-4 6-4

Jeremy Chardy (France) beat Diego Schwartzman (Argentina) 7-5 6-2

Gael Monfils (France) beat Andrey Kuznetsov (Russia) 4-6 6-3 6-4

Juan Monaco (Argentina) beat Jiri Vesely (Czech Republic) 6-4 6-2

Lucas Pouille (France) beat Dominic Thiem (Austria) 6-4 6-4

Marcel Granollers (Spain) beat Adrian Mannarino (France) 6-3 6-0