ROME – Novak Djokovic’s performance was so poor on Sunday that even the 24-time Grand Slam champion admitted it was “worrying”.
Djokovic had one of his worst showings in one of his favorite tournaments, losing to 29th-seeded Alejandro Tabilo in the third round of the Italian Open.
It was Djokovic’s first match since he was accidentally hit in the head by a water bottle while signing autographs after his maiden victory on Friday.
“I managed to sleep well. I had headaches. The next day or yesterday everything was fine, then I thought everything was fine. Maybe it’s okay. Maybe it’s not,” said Djokovic.
“I mean, the way I felt on the court today was completely like a different player had stepped into my shoes. Simply no rhythm, no tempo, no balance in any scene. It’s a little worrying.”
Djokovic started with a double fault and things didn’t get much better for the six-time Rome champion.
Top-seeded Djokovic lost his first two service games and went on to lose the match 6-2, 6-3 in just 68 minutes, giving Tabilo the victory when he double-faulted – his fifth of the match – amid boos at the Foro Itálico.
“I’m trying to take it all in and wake up now,” Tabilo said after the biggest win of his career. “I was just trying to keep my nerves under control and keep swinging. I was trying not to think about it.
“It’s crazy, I just can’t believe what happened. I can’t believe it now. I don’t think anyone can believe that.”
The third round defeat marked Djokovic’s worst performance at the Italian Open. He had only lost once to an opponent outside the top 10 in Rome, where he had never been eliminated before the quarterfinals.
Djokovic followed Rafael Nadal to an early exit after the 10-time Rome champion lost his third round match to Hubert Hurkacz 6-1 6-3 on Saturday.
Although Djokovic said he was “fine” after the water bottle incident, it was an unusually off-key performance from the Serb as he tries to improve his clay game before trying to defend his title at the French Open, which starts on May 26. .
“I was going for a bit of an easy workout yesterday. I didn’t feel anything, but I didn’t feel the same either,” Djokovic said.
“Today, under a lot of stress, was really bad – not in terms of pain, but in terms of balance. Just no coordination. Completely different player than two nights ago… I don’t know. I have to do medical tests and see what’s going on. happening.”
Djokovic committed 12 unforced errors to Tabilo’s four and produced 14 winners to his opponent’s 22. It was also a rare occasion where he had zero break point chances.
He broke four times in the match, including in the final game, and Djokovic could only shake his head when another unforced error gave Tabilo match point.
Djokovic is still without a title this year – the first time he has reached May without a trophy since 2018, when he returned from an injury to his right elbow.
Tabilo next faces 16th-ranked Karen Khachanov, who defeated Francisco Cerundolo 6-2, 6-4.
In the women’s tournament, second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Dayana Yastremska.
American Sofia Kenin, who won the Australian Open in 2020 and also reached the final at Roland Garros the same year, was defeated by Slovak qualifier Rebecca Sramkova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
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AP Tennis:
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