"He allowed me to win it once"- When Novak Djokovic opened up on beating Rafael Nadal in Monte-Carlo
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have forged one of the fiercest rivalries in tennis history, if not the fiercest. The two have locked horns in a total of 28 finals so far (excluding team events).
One such title clash came at the 2013 Monte-Carlo Masters. Nadal was the eight-time defending champion at the time and entered the final as the favorite to win.
However, Djokovic produced a terrific performance to beat him 6-2, 7-6(1) and win his first title in Monte Carlo. He also ended the King of Clay's eight-year winning streak at the Masters 1000 event.
During the post-match press conference, the Serb was asked if beating Nadal and ending his winning streak at the clay-court tournament made his victory even more special.
The then-World No. 1 replied by joking that the King of Clay "allowed" him to win the Monte-Carlo Masters for once. He also claimed that the victory was special for him as he won it in the city he lived in.
"Well, he allowed me to win it once, and I'm very thrilled for that. He won it eight times in a row, so he's been saying how much he loves and enjoys this tournament. On the other hand I do, too. It was a third lucky time for me. That's why it's very special because it's the first time I won this trophy at my home basically," Djokovic said.
Speaking about the importance of his win in Monte-Carlo, Djokovic claimed that the tournament's venue, the Monte-Carlo Tennis Club was the best in the world in his opinion.
"Absolutely, because of the significance that this tournament presents to me. I live here, as I was saying before, spend a lot of time in this club. I mean, for me, the most beautiful club in the world because I love the view, I love the people," he added.
Novak Djokovic won the Monte-Carlo Masters twice throughout his career
Novak Djokovic has won all nine Masters 1000 titles throughout his career, but his record at the Monte-Carlo Masters is relatively inferior compared to the other eight.
The Serb has won 35 out of 48 matches so far in the tournament, with a win percentage of 72.9%. Djokovic triumphed twice in Monte-Carlo, with his second title win coming in 2015, when he beat Tomas Berdych 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in the final.
Apart from his wins, the also reached the final of the tournament twice, in 2009 and 2012. He lost to Rafael Nadal on both occasions.