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World number one Novak Djokovic beat qualifier Ivan Gakhov in his first match in more than a month to reach the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters.<\/span><\/p>\n Djokovic, who received a first-round bye, beat the Russian 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n He had not played since 3 March, when he lost to Daniil Medvedev in the Dubai Tennis Championships semi-finals.<\/span><\/p>\n The Serb was not allowed to enter the United States for the Miami Open and Indian Wells Masters because of his Covid-19 vaccination status.<\/span><\/p>\n Djokovic, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, will face either qualifier Luca Nardi or 16th seed Lorenzo Musetti, both of Italy, in the last 16 on the Monaco clay.<\/span><\/p>\n “It was probably an ugly tennis win today,” said the two-time Monte Carlo winner.<\/span><\/p>\n “I haven’t played my best, particularly in the first set, but I kind of expected that to happen in a way with the conditions, a lot of wind today.<\/span><\/p>\n “All in all, I am pleased with the way I held my nerve in the important moments.”<\/span><\/p>\n Djokovic’s defeat by Medvedev in Dubai continues to be his only loss of 2023 so far.<\/span><\/p>\n However, British interest in Monte Carlo ended as both <\/span>Dan Evans<\/strong> and <\/span>Jack Draper<\/strong> were knocked out.<\/span><\/p>\n British number two Evans fell to a 2-6 6-2 6-3 first-round defeat by Belarusian Ilya Ivashka, while Draper was beaten 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 7-5 in the second round by Polish 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz.<\/span><\/p>\n Ivashka will play his brother-in-law, Russian ninth seed Karen Khachanov, in the second round, while Hurkacz will face either Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman or Italian seventh seed Jannik Sinner in the last 16.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n