Novak Djokovic Knocked Out by Alejandro Tabilo at Monte Carlo Masters
In a surprising turn of events, Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of his 100th career title concluded earlier than expected as he was defeated by Alejandro Tabilo in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters. Tabilo triumphed with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-4, rekindling memories of their previous match last year at the Italian Open, where he also emerged victorious against the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Match Highlights
- Tabilo’s victory came on his second match point, concluding when Djokovic’s return on a powerful serve went long.
- In a tense moment, Djokovic saved one match point while serving at 5-3, 30-40, executing a deft drop shot that caught Tabilo off guard.
- The Chilean’s performance marked a continuation of his strong play against the Serbian; Tabilo remains unbeaten against Djokovic, with a 2-0 record alongside Marat Safin and Jiri Vesely.
Reaction from Tabilo
“It has been a tough year, so a little bit of the nerves were there,” Tabilo stated during his on-court interview. He further credited his strong serving as a key factor in his success, calling the match “unreal.”
Djokovic’s Perspective
In contrast, Djokovic was visibly disappointed with his performance, admitting, “I did not have high expectations. I knew I was going to have a tough opponent… but I didn’t expect it to be this bad.” The 36-year-old made 29 unforced errors during the contest, which he described as a “horrible feeling.” Djokovic expressed regret for not delivering a better performance for his fans, stating, “Just sorry for all the people that have to witness this.”
Looking Ahead
With this defeat, Djokovic, who recently lost in the Miami Open final to Jakub Mensik, is now preparing for the upcoming French Open, where he will celebrate his 38th birthday shortly before the tournament kicks off on May 25.
Meanwhile, defending French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz began his campaign on clay with a comeback victory over Francisco Cerundolo, setting the tone for an exciting clay-court season.
Other Tournament Developments
Noteworthy matches highlighted the ongoing Monte Carlo Masters:
- Lorenzo Musetti advanced after defeating Jiri Lehecka.
- Casper Ruud secured a decisive win against Roberto Bautista Agut.
- Veteran players Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils faced early exits at the hands of Daniel Altmaier and Andrey Rublev, respectively.
The Monte Carlo Masters stands as the inaugural major clay-court tournament of the ATP Tour, setting the stage for an intriguing season on this surface.