After an awe-inspiring win at the Australian Open 2021, Novak Djokovic did not immediately return to a tennis court. Instead, he took time off to recover from his muscle tear and stay with his family.

The Serbian also broke the long-standing Roger Federer record of 310 weeks spent at World No. 1. He celebrated extravagantly with his family and close ones.

But now, with the arrival of the spring season, the 18-time Grand Slam champion has begun his preparations for the clay-court season. Following the tournament Down Under, he will first play at the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 event, which starts on April 11.

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Novak Djokovic sweeps a clay court before playing

Novak Djokovic, 33, is a fitness fanatic and often uses daily activities as a training resource. Therefore, it is not surprising that he swept clay court himself before starting his preparations.

In the social media post, he wished everyone a happy Persian New Year and announced that springtime was here. The Serbian ace added, “Spring time means clay court time. Time to get those white socks dirty.” And he did get them dirty without playing any tennis.

As a training routine, Novak swept one side of the court to level the red dirt.

So far, the 18-time Grand Slam champion has said yes to Monte-Carlo Masters and the Serbian Open. These events will act as his run-up tournaments to the prestigious French Open.

20-time Grand Slam champion from Mallorca, Rafael Nadal, will also be ready for his beloved tennis season.

Read More: Rafael Nadal Confirms Big-Bang Return on Clay Following Miami Open 2021 Withdrawal

Rafael Nadal will join Djokovic in Monte-Carlo

The 34-year-old has also played tennis since his loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Australian Open quarterfinals. However, he is positive to make up for his lost time with an extensive clay-court season.

Rafael Nadal’s clay season includes the Monte-Carlo Masters, Barcelona Open, Madrid Open, Italian Open, and finally the French Open. While he has a standout record at each of the tournaments, players will especially desire to defeat him on clay.

Calling his 13th Roland-Garros victory “unexpected”, the Spaniard made it clear that he is only getting better with age. This year, Djokovic will put his heart into stealing the French Slam from Nadal.

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