Monaco (AFP)

The winds were contrary Thursday in Monte-Carlo: Novak Djokovic was blown by Daniel Evans in the round of 16, shortly before Rafael Nadal swept Grigor Dimitrov, strengthening his status as favorite.

Last French in the running, Lucas Pouille (86th) gave in to Alejandro Davidovich (58th) 6-2, 7-6 (7/2).

He nevertheless found his Monegasque tournament "encouraging", he who is trying to regain the highest level after a cut due to injury from October 2019 to February 2021.

“I think it was one of my worst games in the last few years. I don't want to take anything away from his victory, but I felt terrible on the court the whole game. Nothing was working. is a deplorable performance, ”said Djokovic after losing 6-4, 7-5 to the 33rd player in the world.

The rout is all the more surprising given that the Briton had never reached the knockout stages of a Masters 1000, had never beaten a Top 6 player in eleven duels and that clay is not his surface. predilection.

As for his opponent of the day, he won twice in Monte-Carlo (2013 and 2015) and even if he had not replayed since his title in February at the Australian Open, he remained on a impressive victory the day before against rising star Jannik Sinner.

"Yesterday (against Sinner), I had a very good game. Today was the exact opposite," he said simply.

- Metronome out of order -

A metronome who enjoys playing in rhythm, Djokovic was totally disturbed by the variations of Evans and his almost systematic sliced ​​backhands.

As a result, the Serbian committed 45 unforced errors, or about twice his opponent.

And for the fifth time in a row, since his 2015 title, he has failed to make it past the quarter-finals.

And so Evans will try to reach the last four against the Belgian David Goffin (15th) who disposed of Alexander Zverev (6th) 6-4, 7-6 (9/7).

The other quarter-final at the top of the table will pit Davidovich against Stefanos Tsitsipas (5th), quiet winner of Cristian Garin (24th) 6-3, 6-4.

The early elimination of the world No.1 significantly increases Nadal's chances of winning his twelfth Monegasque title, especially in view of his demonstration of the day.

- Intensity -

After his easy victory against Federico Delbonis (87th) 6-1, 6-2 in 1h20 the day before, the Spaniard regretted having "lost a little intensity" at the end of the game, especially because of the absence of an audience to which we must "show that we are good".

And he added that he would have to be "100% at all times" to beat Dimitrov (17th).

There was still no audience Thursday, but Nadal, he was thoroughly from start to finish.

And he made short work of the Bulgarian, swallowing 6-1, 6-1 in 55 minutes.

"I stayed focused the whole match, even though it was clearly in my favor," said the Spaniard.

After 40 minutes of demonstration, Nadal was already leading 6-1, 3-0.

Overwhelmed by the opposing game, annoyed by his helplessness, Dimitrov then spent his nerves on his racket, pulverized on the ground then wrapped around his knee as if to be sure that it could no longer serve him ... harm him.

All without any other mark of anger or rebellion as he knew the lost cause.

"On paper, Dimitrov today represented a complicated test. It was not the case", he analyzed, admitting that his opponent had made "a bad game" and had not been in. able to oppose him the resistance he had opposed to him in the semifinals of the 2017 Australian Open (Nadal victory in five sets).

On Friday, he will face Andrey Rublev (8th) or Roberto Bautista (11th) for a place in the semi-finals.

The other quarter-final at the bottom of the table will pit defending champion Fabio Fognini (18th), winner of Filip Krajinovic (37th) 6-2, 7-6 (7/1), against Casper Ruud (27th) or Pablo Carreno (12th).

© 2021 AFP