The two-time Monte Carlo champion, who said he found “joy” in his Miami performance, and that it “gives [him] more inspiration to keep going,” added in his pre-tournament interview that it was never in the plans for Murray, who started coaching Djokovic at the start of the year, to accompany him to the event. The Scot will re-join him in Madrid.
“I was thinking about who I wanted anyone apart from my fitness coach and physio and my brother Marko was able to join me so that helps me on a different level emotionally,” he said, according to the ATP website. “Have some time with my brother and spend some time with him on the road.”
Read more: 2025 Monte Carlo Masters Preview: Carlos Alcaraz tries to dispel the doubts
Alcaraz, seeded No. 2, and No. 3 seed Djokovic were drawn in opposite halves at the first clay-court Masters 1000 event of the spring. The Spaniard will face the winner of the first-round match between wild card Fabio Fognini and Francisco Cerundolo, while Djokovic will face either wild card Stan Wawrinka or Alejandro Tabilo—the latter of whom defeated him last year in Rome.
