Monte Carlo, Djokovic beaten by Fokina

That it would not be an easy return, he imagined. Novak Djokovic, stopped since February 24, the last of the three games played on the circuit in 2022, got off at the first stop of the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo, beaten in two sets by the Spaniard Davidovich Fokina, number 45 in the world ranking 6-3 6-7 6 -1. A lot of work on the pitch, a lot of training in these weeks out of competition for the Serbian, now followed by only Goran Ivanisevic after his divorce from Marian Vajda. But the distance from the official matches made itself felt. Nole is also behind physically, he makes mistakes we weren’t used to and despite the great desire to return, the road to get to the 2021 Nole version is still long.

Number 1 in the world despite just four games played, the Nole on the pitch is only a distant relative of what we are used to knowing. Slow, foul, with a service that is not scary, he immediately starts badly with three break points to be canceled in the first serving game. On the 1-1, however, Davidovich manages to snatch the serve by going to the change of field at 2-1. At 3-1 the Serbian still suffers the initiative of the Spaniard and is the victim of too many free mistakes, also thanks to the wind. He manages to recover partially by recovering one of the two breaks but at 5-3 for Davidovich, Nole again gives up the bar and therefore the set.

In the second part of the game, the number 1 in the world is seen only in flashes, with flashes of quality and class. He loses the serve immediately, at 2-0 he has five chances to recover the disadvantage but after more than a quarter of an hour of struggle he is the rival who stretches 3-0. Davidovich Fokina, when he has the opportunity to break away 4-0, puts in a game to forget, technically and tactically, allowing the 20 Grand Slam champion, two times winner in the Principality, to recover the break. Still danger at 3-2 and service, with two more break points to be canceled.

The third opportunity comes with a nefarious mistake, a kind of tossed volley that allows Fokina to take the lead again this time 4-2. But the wickedness is not over: Fokina dives in an absolutely free way on the ball and injures himself in his right hand, Nole attacks and counter-breaks again for the 4-3, returning even 4-4. Molla Fokina who rings 3 consecutive double fouls and allows Nole to serve at 5-4. The dangers are not over for the Serbian who with three forehand mistakes still gives the bar, 5-5. The Spaniard recovers and climbs 6-5 and even goes to two points from the match but Nole grabs the tie break and with a passer-by to Djokovic earns the third set.

The epilogue

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Davidovich starts immediately with a break in the third set, and also has the opportunity to extend 3-0, on the break ball his passerby comes out by a few centimeters, immediately afterwards he has a second one, saved in the line by the Serbian. Throw away another risk Nole who then has the ball of 2-2 but does not capitalize and Fokina seals the 3-1. That wasn’t enough, the Spaniard goes on the run with a second break for 4-1. Djokovic saves a match point but the Spaniard closes in 2nd.