Coming off a 6-1, 6-1 blowout of Robin Haase, a confident Ramos-Vinolas was no match for Djokovic in set one. The second proved to be more competitive, but a single service break was enough for the top seed because he did not face a break point on his own serve after getting broken once in the opening frame of play.
“I felt very good,” Djokovic assured. “I thought, considering the amount of months that I haven’t played on the clay courts, to play against somebody that is a clay-court specialist and win in two sets, I thought it was a very good performance. I can just take positives from today.
“I’m playing at home in a way, because I spend a lot of time in Monte-Carlo; I practice in this club over the course of 12 months. I know people who are doing the courts; friends with them. It really is a different and very special feeling. So I’m trying to enjoy it and see how far I can go.”
Djokovic is joined in the last 16 by David Ferrer and Marin Cilic, who advanced in much different fashions. Ferrer got a retirement from Victor Estrella Burgos (right shoulder) while leading 6-2, 2-0. With both players contesting just their second match of the year, Cilic battled past Florian Mayer 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Grigor Dimitrov barely missed out on a first-round bye as the No. 8 seed. He held off Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to set up a showdown with Fabio Fognini.
Dimitrov interview:
