Djokovic sets up Monte Carlo Masters third-round fight with Dominic Thiem on Thursday.
The 12-time Grand Slam champ, who finished a three-coordinate losing streak with triumph over Dusan Lajovic in his opening match not long ago, came through against the capable 21-year-old Coric on account of a 7-6 (7-2) 7-5 triumph.
The two men traded blows in the first set, yet it was Djokovic who bounced to a 5-1 lead in the tie-break. Coric along these lines propelled a strike too long, gifting the set to the two-time Monte Carlo champ.
The Croatian, as of now positioned 39th on the planet, declined to permit Djokovic, playing in just his fourth competition since the previous summer’s Wimbledon titles, a stranglehold on the match.
The No 9 seed required 10 coordinate focuses to get his triumph over the line to set up a tempting conflict with fifth seed Dominic Thiem for a place in the quarter-finals, with world No 1 Rafael Nadal at that point to be the possible rival.
“It was a real battle. I mean, I could have won the match earlier definitely. But it was great to deal with these kinds of emotions again,” said Djokovic. “It’s disrespectful towards Dominic and Dominic’s tennis. To think about and talk about potentially a match-up with Nadal.
“Last year in Roland Garros he beat me in straight sets. He’s definitely a top-three player in the world on clay.”
Japan triumphed as Kei Nishikori secured a 7-5 6-2 triumph against Daniil Medvedev of Russia.
Roberto Bautista-Agut, vanquished his Spanish comrade Feliciano Lopez while Italian Fabio Fognini lost 6-4 6-2 to Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
Richard Gasquet ran out an agreeable 6-2 6-1 victor against Argentine Diego Schwartzman while German Philipp Kohlschreiber, Italian Andreas Seppi, and No 14 seed Milos Raonic all advanced to the last 16.
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