Tennis star out early
“Just terrible”: Djoković struggles to embarrass
04.04.2025 – 8:51 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
The tournament in Monte Carlo has ended again for the record-Grand Slam winner. Then Novak Djoković goes to court with himself.
Novak Djoković made a false start at the ATP Masters in Monte Carlo. The world ranking list lost his first match after a free -wing in round one with 3: 6 and 4: 6 against the Chilean Alejandro Tabilo. This means that the 100th tournament victory on the ATP tour will remain.
“Just terrible. A terrible feeling to play like this, and I’m sorry for all the people who have to watch it,” said Djoković after the game. “I didn’t have high expectations, really not. I knew that I would have a hard opponent and that I will probably play quite badly. But I didn’t expect it so bad.”
Another defeat against Tabilo
Djoković never found his game. Although he defended a match ball in the second set, the decisive mistake made him after 87 minutes – like last year in Rome, he had to give up Tabilo.
Most recently, Djoković had also disappointed at Miami’s Masters. There he lost the final against the 18-year-old Czech Jakub Menšík.
Health problems before the tournament
The 37-year-old had traveled to Monte Carlo in terms of health. An eye infection that had already affected him in Florida and a virus disease caused considerations to do without a start in the principality. The eye problems would have “calmed down” in time, Djoković explained before the tournament.
In Monte Carlo, the Serb originally wanted to “collect as many matches as possible” in order to play for the clay court season. The next big goal is the French Open, which will start in Paris on May 25th.
Alexander Zverev also failed early at the tournament in Monaco. The Hamburg team lost to the Italian Matteo Berrettini in his opening game.