MONACO — Even when it comes to foreign languages skills, Novak Djokovic wants to be the best. After strolling into the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters with a 6-1, 6-4 win over qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas, the top-ranked Serb told spectators in fluent French how pleased he was with his first win on clay this season. Djokovic's next big goal is to win the French Open, the only Grand Slam tournament missing from his already impressive collection. Mastering another foreign language is on his list, too. Djokovic is first attempting to dethrone Rafael Nadal, the “King of Clay.” In Monte Carlo, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic have been placed in the same half of the draw and could meet in the semifinals. In a match that sometimes resembled a practice session, Djokovic never looked troubled by Ramos-Vinolas, although he dropped his serve once in the middle of the opening set. The win over the Spanish clay-court specialist extended Djokovic's winning streak to 13 matches following back-to-back titles at Indian Wells and Miami. Fifth-seeded David Ferrer joined Djokovic in the third round when Victor Estrella Burgos retired while trailing 6-2, 2-0, and ninth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov came out on top of a tight first-round match with Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Also, Gael Monfils overcame a shaky start to rally past Russian qualifier Andrey Kuznetsov 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, while 10th-seeded Gilles Simon and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also advanced in straight sets. Number 11 Tsonga beat Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 6-4 while Simon, seeded tenth, defeated Monaco's Benjamin Balleret 6-4, 6-2. Wild-card entry Lucas Pouille also advanced and will next face eight-time champion Nadal, while Juan Monaco will be up against Stan Wawrinka after defeating Jiri Vesely 6-4, 6-2. Heavy load for Serena Serena Williams has been virtually unbeatable this year. The top-ranked player could face quite a challenge this weekend, though, when she may have to play three matches in two days before a hostile crowd on slow red clay against Italy in a Fed Cup World Group playoff. With sister Venus Williams withdrawing because of a personal matter, Serena will be expected to carry a squad that also features 45th-ranked Alison Riske, No. 57 Lauren Davis and No. 65 Christina McHale. Besides playing two singles matches in the best-of-five series, US captain Mary Joe Fernandez said Serena will also be expected to play doubles if the match is tied 2-2 Sunday. Sharapova out World No. 2 Maria Sharapova will miss Russia's Fed Cup semifinal with Germany this weekend in Sochi because of a leg injury, the Russian tennis federation announced Tuesday. Five-time Grand Slam title winner said the injury, which she has suffered at the WTA tournament at Miami, prevented her from practicing in recent days. French Open ups prize money Prize money at the French Open will rise to 28 million euros ($29.5 million) this year, an increase of 3 million euros from last year. The men's and women's champions will receive 1.8 million euros ($1.9 million) each, 150,000 euros more than 2014, and losing finalists will receive 900,000 euros, a raise of 75,000 euros. The French Open begins on May 24. — Agencies
