Federer ousts ailing Djokovic at Monte Carlo Masters
Roger Federer beat an injured Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-2 to set up an all-Swiss Monte Carlo Masters tennis final with Stanislas Wawrinka after the Australian Open champion ousted David Ferrer 6-1 7-6 (3) on Saturday.
Holder Djokovic resisted for one set before pain in his right wrist was just too much to bear for the second-seeded Serb who bowed out on the first match point after one hour 14 minutes.
“It’s unfortunate that when you’re playing at this level against Roger, big tournament, that you are not able to play your game because something else is taking away all your energy,” said Djokovic.
I just rest now. I cannot play tennis for some time. How long, I don’t know
Later, Djokovic said he would not be able to play tennis “for some time” because of the wrist injury.
“The good thing is I don’t need to have surgery. I don’t have any rupture or something like that. I’m going to go see doctors and have another MRI, see if anything has changed in seven days since I had the last one.
“I just rest now. I cannot play tennis for some time. How long, I don’t know,” he added, six weeks before the start of the May 25-June 8 French Open.
Federer told Canal Plus: “I had the feeling he was not finishing off his shots with as much top spin as usual.
“Even at 90 per cent, Novak is still strong and you still have to take your chances in the key moments and there were some in the first set where I had tough moments.”
The much-awaited clash lived up to expectations early on, with 17-times grand slam champion Federer saving two set points on serve at 5-4.
Federer, who has never won the Monte Carlo Masters, broke in the following game and pocketed the set with an ace before Djokovic went to his chair holding his right wrist.
The second set was a stroll for the Swiss who produced a series of forehand winners as he moved 18-16 up in his head-to-head record against Djokovic.
Earlier, third seed Wawrinka showed no mercy against the giant-killing Ferrer.
The Swiss raced through the first set and kept his composure in the second when the Spaniard raised his level.
Sixth seed Ferrer, who knocked out eight-times French Open champion and world number one Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals on Friday, was on the back foot throughout.
“It was the perfect start for me. I played very well in spite of the wind,” Wawrinka said.
“He changed tactics in the second set, being more aggressive, and I became more hesitant but I played tougher then.”
