Novak Djokovic, the world-renowned tennis champion, faced a surprising defeat in his opening match at the Monte-Carlo Masters on Wednesday. The 24-time Grand Slam winner struggled to find his rhythm, falling 6-3, 6-4 to Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo.
Djokovic, 37, admitted to a “horrible” performance, saying, “Just horrible. Horrible feeling to play this way, and just sorry for all the people that have to witness this.” He has been battling an eye infection since the Miami Open, which may have impacted his game. This marks his second consecutive loss to Tabilo on clay, following last year’s defeat at the Italian Open in Rome.
Currently chasing his 100th ATP title, Djokovic’s unexpected exit leaves fans wondering about his form moving forward. Meanwhile, Tabilo, ranked 32nd globally, advances to the last 16, where he will face Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov.
In contrast, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz staged an impressive comeback to claim his first-ever win at the Monte-Carlo Masters. After dropping the first set 3-6 to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, the 21-year-old rallied to dominate the next two sets 6-0, 6-1.
Ranked third in the world, Alcaraz overcame a slow start to overpower Cerundolo, showcasing his resilience and skill on clay. “I knew I had to stay focused and fight for every point,” Alcaraz said after the match. He will face Germany’s Daniel Altmaier in the last 16.
Altmaier secured his spot by defeating French veteran Richard Gasquet in a grueling three-set match. Gasquet, 38, playing in Monte-Carlo for the final time, received a heartfelt ovation from the crowd, marking the end of an era for the longtime fan favorite.
