Djokovic defeats Monfils again, moves to Brisbane Quarter-Finals

Novak Djokovic continued his dominance over Gael Monfils on Thursday evening, securing a 6-3, 6-3 victory in the Brisbane International round of 16.

The win extends Djokovic’s flawless head-to-head record against the Frenchman to 20-0, a rivalry that began in 2005.

The Serbian showed his class from the baseline, repeatedly wearing down Monfils during extended rallies.

His serving was equally commanding, as Djokovic faced just one break point in the 73-minute match. The result seemed inevitable, much like their previous 19 encounters.

“Monfils’ game suits me well,” Djokovic said after the match.

“To some extent, the more you win against someone, the happier you are to play him. It was a special match in a way, playing a 37-year-old versus a 38-year-old on the Tour in the first tournament of God knows what season of ours that we have in our career.”

Djokovic was full of praise for Monfils, commending his athleticism, charisma, and enduring popularity.

“I think he deserves great credit for playing still at such a high level at his age,” Djokovic noted.

“He’s so athletic. Super nice guy that is loved by millions of people – with a reason. He’s a great entertainer, great charisma. The best dancer we have on the tour, that’s for sure.”

With the victory, Djokovic advances to the quarter-finals, where he will face big-serving Reilly Opelka.

The Serbian is heavily favoured in the matchup, with tennis betting odds of -2500 at Bovada.

Djokovic remains the top contender to win the Brisbane International, priced at -163.93 across the top betting sites, well ahead of second-favourite Grigor Dimitrov (+450 at Bovada).

A win in Brisbane would mark Djokovic’s 100th ATP title, a historic milestone for the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

Despite his dominant form, Djokovic is currently the third favourite for the upcoming Australian Open, which begins on Sunday, January 12.

He sits at +350 to claim the title, trailing Jannik Sinner (+150) and Carlos Alcaraz (+333) in outright betting odds at Bovada.

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