Djokovic falls to Medvedev in Monte Carlo, Nadal marches on

Tennis - ATP 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 19, 2019 Russia's Daniil Medvedev with Serbia's Novak Djokovic after winning their quarter final match REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

(Reuters) - World number one Novak Djokovic's French Open preparations were dealt with a blow as he suffered a 6-3 4-6 6-2 defeat by Russian Daniil Medvedev in the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals on Friday.

Djokovic, twice champion in Monte Carlo, fought back to level the match after dropping the first set before the 23-year-old Medvedev claimed the biggest victory of his career.

Medvedev had lost each of his previous three clashes with Djokovic but he broke his Serbian opponent's serve five times to move into the final four.

Tennis - ATP 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 19, 2019 Russia's Daniil Medvedev celebrates after winning his quarter final match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

"He's got a very solid backhand. He hits it very low and with depth," Djokovic said.

"A windy day like today, conditions are changing every single game. It's kind of tough to find the rhythm, and he doesn't give you much rhythm.

"He improved his movement a lot since last year. He definitely deserves to be where he is."

Tennis - ATP 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 19, 2019 Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action during his quarter final match against Russia's Daniil Medvedev REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Medvedev will next face another Serb in Dusan Lajovic, who followed up his shock win over world number five Dominic Thiem with a 6-4 7-5 victory over Italian qualifier Lorenzo Sonego.

For Djokovic, it was another premature exit from an ATP Masters 1000 event after he crashed out in the early rounds at Indian Wells and Miami last month.

The 31-year-old has struggled for rhythm in his first claycourt event of the season and will need step up his game to have a chance of winning his fourth straight Grand Slam title at next month's French Open.

Tennis - ATP 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 19, 2019 Russia's Daniil Medvedev in action during his quarter final match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Second seed Rafa Nadal was forced to work hard for his 18th straight match win at the Monte Carlo Country Club as he fought back to beat Argentina Guido Pella 7-6(1) 6-3.

The 11-times champion made a sluggish start and was one point away from 1-5 deficit in the opening set but recovered well to convert seven of his 13 break-point opportunities and advance after two hours and 20 minutes.

"It was a very tough first set physically and mentally, too. Losing the first three games with my serve was tough. But I found a way at the right time," world number two Nadal said.

Tennis - ATP 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 19, 2019 Russia's Daniil Medvedev in action during his quarter final match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

"I was lucky at 4-1, he had two points to be 5-1 and with 5-1 it's almost impossible. Then I played better. Being in the semi-finals again here means a lot to me."

Nadal has now won 25 consecutive sets on Court Rainier III since dropping one in his opening match in 2017 to Briton Kyle Edmund.

Tennis - ATP 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 19, 2019 Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action during his quarter final match against Russia's Daniil Medvedev REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Ed Osmond)

Tennis - ATP 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 19, 2019 Russia's Daniil Medvedev talks to the umpire during his quarter final match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Tennis - ATP 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 19, 2019 Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts during his quarter final match against Russia's Daniil Medvedev REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Tennis - ATP 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 19, 2019 Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action during his quarter final match against Russia's Daniil Medvedev REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Tennis - ATP 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 19, 2019 Serbia's Novak Djokovic during his quarter final match against Russia's Daniil Medvedev REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Tennis - ATP 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 19, 2019 Russia's Daniil Medvedev with Serbia's Novak Djokovic after winning their quarter final match REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Tennis - ATP 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 19, 2019 Russia's Daniil Medvedev celebrates after winning his quarter final match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Tennis - ATP 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 19, 2019 Serbia's Novak Djokovic waves after losing his quarter final match against Russia's Daniil Medvedev REUTERS/Eric Gaillard