Matteo Berrettini of Italy delivered a stunning performance on Tuesday, defeating Serbia’s Novak Djokovic 7-6(4), 6-2 in the first round of the Qatar Open. The victory marks Berrettini’s first win over the former world No. 1 and a significant milestone in his career.
The Italian, once ranked world No. 6, showcased exceptional skill and composure, securing the match in just one hour and 35 minutes. “It’s something that I’ve been looking to do,” Berrettini said after the match. “I played against him in the most important tournaments on tour, had the honor and the pleasure to play against him. I wish I could have won one of those matches as well.”
Berrettini, currently ranked No. 35, was named the Association of Tennis Professionals’ (ATP) Comeback Player of the Year in 2022. He will face Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands in the next round.
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion aiming for his 100th ATP title, was playing his first singles match since retiring from the Australian Open semifinals due to a hamstring injury. Despite the loss, he expressed no concerns about his physical condition. “I didn’t have any pain or discomfort in that sense. I was outplayed by just a better player today,” Djokovic admitted. “I wasn’t at my desired level, and it could be that I’m still not moving the way I want to move, but I played without pain, so there is no excuse in that.”
The Serbian star, 37, noted the challenges of maintaining peak performance as he progresses in his career. “Things are not the same as 10, 15 years ago. I still try to take care of my body on a daily basis, and it’s more challenging now, no doubt. I still try to do my very best, given the circumstances,” he added.
Djokovic will now turn his attention to the doubles event, partnering with Spain’s Fernando Verdasco in the quarterfinals against Finland’s Harri Heliovaara and Britain’s Henry Patten.
In other matches, China’s Zhang Zhizhen was eliminated by Italy’s Luca Nardi with a score of 6-4, 6-3. Zhang took an early lead at 3-2 in the first set but conceded four consecutive games, resulting in his second loss to Nardi this year.
