Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal find out their opponents for Monte-Carlo Masters openers

ATP Tour
Novak Djokovic on clay

Defending champion Novak Djokovic will take on rising star Jannik Sinner in his first match at the 2021 Monte-Carlo Masters while Rafael Nadal will face qualifier Federico Delbonis.

Fresh from finishing runner-up to Hubert Delbonis at the Miami Open, teenager Sinner had no problems seeing off Albert Ramos-Vinolas, winning 6-3, 6-3 after breaking twice in the first set and once in the second.

The victory earned him a first-ever ATP meeting between against Djokovic, but Sinner is rated highly by many established stars with the world No 1 saying earlier in the week that the Italian has “all the goods to become a champion”.

“I have seen his development, his trajectory, his road to where he is at the moment,” 18-time Grand Slam winner said.

“It’s really impressive. He’s a very, very nice person. He’s working really hard. He’s devoted. He’s got all the goods that he needs in order to become a champion.”

Third seed Nadal, meanwhile, will be up against Argentine Delbonis, who was a comfortable 7-5, 6-1 winner over Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, breaking once in the first set and twice in the second.

The big upset of the morning came in the top half of the draw as world No 21 Felix Auger-Aliassime’s first match after teaming up with Toni Nadal ended in defeat.

The Canadian was beaten 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 by Cristian Garin from Chile.

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Jannik Sinner Novak Djokovic

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