MONACO — Novak Djokovic’s newest bid to win a a centesimal profession title led to one other upset defeat to a well-known face.
Alejandro Tabilo, who handed the 24-time Grand Slam champion a shocking loss on the Italian Open final 12 months, beat Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday within the second spherical of the Monte Carlo Masters.
Again on clay for the primary time since successful the Olympic gold in Paris final August, Djokovic stated he did not have excessive expectations going into the match.
“I knew I’m going to have a troublesome opponent and I knew I’m going to in all probability play fairly unhealthy,” Djokovic stated. “However this unhealthy, I didn’t anticipate.”
Djokovic, who just lately misplaced the Miami Open ultimate to Jakub Mensik, turns 38 subsequent month — shortly earlier than the French Open begins on Could 25.
French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz began his clay-court season by rallying for a 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 victory over Francisco Cerundolo.
The second-seeded Alcaraz was coming off a shocking loss to Belgian veteran David Goffin in his first match on the Miami Open.
One other upset appeared doable when Cerundolo, ranked No. 22, took the primary set however Alcaraz dominated the remainder of the match and transformed 5 of his seven break factors throughout the second and third units.
Alcaraz is searching for a second title in 2025 and to fine-tune his clay-court sport forward of a bid to retain his title at Roland Garros beginning subsequent month.
Tabilo, who was born and raised in Toronto earlier than opting to signify Chile as a professional after not having a deep reference to Tennis Canada, clinched victory on his second match level when Djokovic returned his robust serve lengthy.
Djokovic had saved one match level within the ninth sport when he was trailing 5-3 and 30-40 on his serve, clipping a neat drop shot over the online which his Chilean opponent couldn’t attain.
Djokovic then held for 5-4.
No. 13 Lorenzo Musetti beat Jiri Lehecka 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 to arrange a last-16 match in opposition to fellow Italian Matteo Berrettini, who beat top-seeded Alexander Zverev on Tuesday.
Daniil Medvedev overcame Alexandre Muller 7-6 (6), 5-7, 6-2, and fourth-seeded Casper Ruud beat Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 6-1.
Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils, a pair of 38-year-old Frenchman, had been eradicated by Daniel Altmaier and seventh-seeded Andrey Rublev, respectively.
The Monte Carlo Masters is the primary huge clay-court match of the 12 months on the ATP Tour.
