Novak Djokovic begins comeback trail at Monte-Carlo Masters after Sunshine Double absence

Novak Djokovic is all set to return to action at the upcoming Monte-Carlo Masters, which begins on April 8, after missing the Sunshine Double events at Indian Wells and Miami.

Djokovic, who began the year in style by winning the Australian Open title, was disallowed from entering the United States on account of his vaccination status.

The Serb posted an image of himself alongside his team in Monte-Carlo, much to the delight of his fans, who were equally enthralled.

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Novak Djokovic, who regained his World No. 1 title after winning the Melbourne Grand Slam earlier this year, went down to Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion subsequently lost the ATP top-slot to Carlos Alcaraz after the Spaniard won the Indian Wells title. The 19-year-old, who needed to defend his title in Miami, lost to Jannik Sinner in a pulsating semifinal, thus allowing Djokovic to occupy the coveted top slot yet again.

After Sinner's phenomenal win over Alcaraz, the 2022 Miami Open champion lost 640 ranking points. Djokovic currently has 7160 points in the bag, while Alcaraz, who has slipped down one slot, will be left with 6780 ranking points following the semifinal loss.

Novak Djokovic last won the Monte-Carlo Open title in 2015 after having registered his maiden win in the tournament a couple of years earlier.

Novak Djokovic in Monte-Carlo - the glory of 2013

Djokovic with the Monte-Carlo Open trophy in 2013

In a tournament that has been dominated by Novak Djokovic's arch rival Rafael Nadal, it was the Serbinator who created some history of his own at the Monte-Carlo Masters by ending the Spaniard's eight-time winning streak back in 2013.

Djokovic, who reached the finals at Monte-Carlo only to go down to Nadal 6–3, 2–6, 6–1 in 2009, was back in the title round three years later.

The King of Clay triumphed once again as he brushed aside a challenge from the Belgrade-born player to win in straight sets 6–3, 6–1 in the 2012 final.

Nadal, who was aiming for a ninth successive Monte-Carlo Open title in 2013, was on the right track despite dropping a set against Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals.

After getting past Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, the Mallorcan, who was on a 46-match winning streak in the competition, was expected to go all the way but Novak Djokovic had other ideas.

The single longest unbeaten streak in a single tournament in tennis history came to an end as Djokovic won the second set tie-break 7-6 (1) after having bagged the first with a scoreline reading 6-2 in the big final.

A loss to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the first round led to an early exit for the 35-year-old in the 2022 edition of the Monte-Carlo Masters.