Novak Djokovic autographed Gael Monfils’ shirt after victory: ‘Sorry, not sorry’

It’s not too usually opponents are completely happy accepting an autograph from somebody who simply dominated them.

However for those who’re Novak Djokovic, it could simply be alright.

After Djokovic cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Gael Monfils on the Cincinnati Open on Thursday night time for a document nineteenth straight win towards Monfils, the Serbian tennis legend left the Frenchman with a memento from the match.

“Sorry, not sorry,” Djokovic wrote on Monfils’ shirt after the match, including a smiley face and his signature.

The nineteenth consecutive win towards Monfils broke Rafael Nadal’s males’s singles’ Open Period document for many wins in a row towards a single opponent, as Nadal beforehand held the title with 18 straight victories over Richard Gasquet.

“It could not have been the match I hoped for towards the GOAT, but it surely’s nonetheless an honor and a pleasure to face @DjokerNole,” Monfils wrote in French on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Regardless of every little thing, it stays a constructive week. I’m going to relaxation to be on prime on the US Open. Thanks a lot on your unimaginable assist.”

Djokovic and Monfils, each 36 years outdated, first met on the U.S. Open in 2005, when the 2 18-year-olds performed a legendary five-setter during which Djokovic misplaced the fourth set with out profitable a sport however someway got here again to take the match.

Since that second, their careers have gone in separate instructions: Djokovic has gained a document 23 Grand Slam singles titles, whereas Monfils has by no means captured a serious championship however holds 11 ATP titles to his identify.

“It was sort of an evolution of each gamers over the previous 15-plus years that we’ve been enjoying one another in several elements of the world, additionally in juniors,” Djokovic said of the history between himself and Monfils.

“I believe early on I struggled rather a lot with him, I believe bodily as properly. While you play one of the vital athletic guys on the tour, you must be prepared, each ball comes again. A few factors right now, particularly within the first set, he confirmed his athleticism.”

Monfils is within the midst of one thing of a resurgence, having defeated world No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas on the Canadian Open this month, in addition to No. 15 Cameron Norrie in Cincinnati.

The Frenchman is at present ranked No. 211 on this planet, having fallen from the No. 6 rank in 2016, his highest watermark.

Djokovic advances in Cincinnati to play the American Taylor Fritz within the quarterfinals.