Alternate qualifier Ivan Gakhov is excited to face off against Novak Djokovic at the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters on Tuesday, April 11. Gakhov earned the opportunity to compete against the World No. 1 after a three-set victory over American Mackenzie McDonald in the Round of 32.
Ivan Gakhov’s admiration for Novak Djokovic
The Russian tennis player is eagerly anticipating his match against Djokovic, seeing it as a great reward despite points and monetary gains. Gakhov expressed his admiration for Djokovic, stating that he has always been a fan of the tennis legend. He plans to analyze the Serbian’s playing style with his coaches in preparation for their upcoming match. Gakhov acknowledges the challenge ahead but hopes to treat it like any other game while showing respect to Djokovic.
Preparing for the match against the greatest of all time
Knowing Djokovic’s prowess, Gakhov and his coach intend to study the Serbian’s gameplay carefully. They acknowledge that everyone has weak points, including Djokovic, and will try to identify them in order to gain an advantage in the match. Gakhov is determined to do his best and give his all during the game.
Novak Djokovic looking for success at Monte-Carlo Masters
In his pre-tournament press conference, Djokovic talked about his recent lack of success at the Monte-Carlo Masters and his ambition to improve his performance in 2023. Having suffered a third-round defeat in 2021 and a second-round loss in 2022, Djokovic is keen on making a better start to his clay season this year. As the tennis world watches, the Serbian superstar remains hopeful of capturing another title in Monaco in the near future.
