Novak Djokovic needed 10 match points to claim a hard-fought straight-sets victory over the dangerous Borna Coric on Wednesday, setting up a Monte Carlo Masters third-round clash with Dominic Thiem.
The 12-time Grand Slam champion, playing only his fourth tournament since Wimbledon last July after struggling with a right elbow injury, overcame some late nerves to win 7-6(2), 7-5.
Djokovic is working with long-time former coach Marian Vajda for the first time in almost a year after splitting from Andre Agassi, and the 30-year-old has looked rejuvenated in Monaco after early exits in Indian Wells and Miami.
Japan’s Kei Nishikori continued his comeback from injury with an impressive 7-5, 6-2 win over Russian Daniil Medvedev.
The former World No. 4, who has struggled over the last year with a right wrist injury, followed up his first-round victory against Tomas Berdych with a solid display on centre court.
Last year’s runner-up Albert Ramos-Vinolas slumped to a 6-4, 6-2 defeat by Philipp Kohlschreiber. Fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov survived a scare against Pierre-Hugues Herbert before holding his nerve to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Important results: Second round: Novak Djokovic bt Borna Coric 7-6(2), 7-5; Karen Khachanov bt Gilles Simon 6-2, 6-2; Kei Nishikori bt Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2; Roberto Bautista Agut bt Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 7-6(5); Jan-Lennard Struff bt Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-2; Philipp Kohlschreiber bt Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-4, 6-2; Dominic Thiem bt Andrey Rublev 5-7, 7-5, 7-5; Mischa Zverev bt Lucas Pouille 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(3); Grigor Dimitrov bt Pierre-Hugues Herbert 3-6, 6-2, 6-4; David Goffin bt Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(4), 7-5; Alexander Zverev bt Gilles Muller 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
