Novak Djokovic Suffers Early Exit at Monte Carlo Masters
Novak Djokovic’s hopes for a successful run at the Monte Carlo Masters were dashed on Wednesday as he lost his opening second-round match 6-3, 6-4 to Chilean Alejandro Tabilo.
The 37-year-old Serbian player had been struggling with an eye infection since his semi-finals in Miami at the end of March, which impacted his performance on the court. Djokovic admitted that he did not have high expectations for the tournament in Monte Carlo.
Tabilo, who had previously defeated Djokovic on clay at last year’s Rome Masters, took advantage of Djokovic’s lackluster performance to secure a 2-0 lead in their head-to-head record. Djokovic, who was aiming for his 100th ATP title, has not won a tournament since claiming gold at the Paris Olympics last year.
Tabilo, currently ranked 32nd in the world, will now face either Monegasque Valentin Vacherot or Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the round of 16.
Carlos Alcaraz Makes Strong Comeback at Monte Carlo Masters
Meanwhile, rising star Carlos Alcaraz secured his first win at the Monte Carlo Masters by defeating Francisco Cerundolo in a thrilling comeback. After dropping the first set 3-6, Alcaraz bounced back to win the next two sets 6-0, 6-1.
Alcaraz, who had a mixed tour in the United States with a semi-final finish in Indian Wells and an early exit in Miami, showed his prowess on clay courts. Despite a slow start against Cerundolo, the 21-year-old Spaniard regrouped and dominated the match to secure a spot in the last 16.
For his next match, Alcaraz will face German Daniel Altmaier, currently ranked 84th, who defeated French veteran Richard Gasquet in a tough three-set battle.
