Until then, the duels with Djokovic have never smiled on Monfils: in seventeen face-to-face meetings, the 35-year-old Frenchman has never won.

Even if, during the last to date, in February 2020 in Dubai, he led by a set and a break, then obtained three match points before being overthrown by the world N.1 (2 -6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-1).

So is there any reason to take advantage of the "Djoko" version 2022, kept away from the circuit almost the entire first quarter, marked by the incredible soap opera of his expulsion from Australia, for lack of vaccination against the Covid -19?

"Honestly, he has more matches than me, he has more pace," said Monfils, referring to recent weeks.

Practically at a standstill until April (three matches in Dubai in February), the Serb has indeed put the machine back on the road since, with the return of the circuit to Europe.

If he is still in search of rhythm and in search of his best level, between Monte-Carlo (eliminated from the start by Davidovich) and Belgrade (lost final against Rublev), he nevertheless played five matches in two weeks, all in three sets.

Novak Djokovic at the Serbian Open in Belgrade on April 24, 2022 Pedja MILOSAVLJEVIC AFP

Only one precedent on ocher

On the contrary, Monfils, he remained on a month without competition before the Madrid tournament.

Before his very quiet 6-3, 6-0 victory in 55 minutes on Monday at the expense of Spanish guest Carlos Gimeno, beyond the 350th place in the world, he had not played since the end of March (3rd round in Miami). and had forfeited just before Monte-Carlo due to "foot discomfort".

"Today is a game, but it doesn't tell me anything about where I am really at. He has games, he is gradually gaining strength, I see that he is playing better and better, so it's going to be complicated", he compares.

"We talk a lot about Novak, but I'm not 100% yet either", continues the French N.1, who "stopped for ten full days" to rest his painful foot.

Gaël Monfils in Indian Wells, California on March 16, 2022 Frederic J. BROWN AFP

Between Djokovic and Monfils, only one match took place on clay.

It goes back sixteen years to Roland-Garros in 2006 (7-6, 7-6, 6-3 in the round of 16).

Does the world N.1 seem more accessible to him on ocher than on hard, his favorite surface?

"Frankly I don't think so, replies the quarter-finalist of the Australian Open 2022. I feel better on hard. And him too..."

"Earth or hard, it's the same: he has a way of playing that I don't like. He manages to find my weaknesses every time, he continues. Quite simply, he is stronger than me. When someone is more He's stronger than you, he's stronger than you. You can beat him once, maybe twice, three times. Me, I've never really succeeded. But there aren't many guys who have beaten Usain Bolt !"

Puglia-Tsitsipas Wednesday

"If it smiles on me tomorrow (Tuesday), I'll take it. But I'm not in top form either," repeats Monfils.

Shortly before 1 a.m., Lucas Pouille, who is chasing his best level since a right elbow operation in July 2020, offered him his most prestigious victory in almost three years (August 2019) at the expense of Karen Khachanov (26th) 6-3, 6-4.

Only his third of the season on the main circuit.

Ex-top 10 descended beyond the 150th place in the world, he has an appointment with the world No.5 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round on Wednesday.

The other two Frenchmen in the running fell from the start: Benoît Paire against Diego Schwartzman (6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1) and Ugo Humbert against Denis Shapovalov (7-6 (7/1 ), 6-3).

Andy Murray, a titanium hip since 2019, obtained his first victory (6-3, 6-4) on clay in almost five years (Roland-Garros 2017) against another comeback, Dominic Thiem, penalized by his thirties unforced errors.

Novak Djokovic at the Serbian Open in Belgrade on April 21, 2022 Pedja MILOSAVLJEVIC AFP

The Austrian, ex-N.3 in the world today 91st, was away from the circuit for ten months, between last June and mid-April, injured right wrist, and is still chasing after a first victory.

It now remains on three defeats in as many weeks, in Belgrade, Estoril and Madrid.

In the women's draw, we now know the poster for two quarter-finals: Simona Halep, who is playing her first tournament under the supervision of Patrick Mouratoglou, against Ons Jabeur (10th), the last representative of the top 10 in the race.

And Amanda Anisimova (33rd) against Ekaterina Alexandrova (45th).

© 2022 AFP