Novak Djokovic suffered a stunning upset in the third round of the Rome Masters 1000 tournament on Sunday. Despite being the world number one, he was defeated by Chilean Alejandro Tabilo with a score of 2-6, 3-6 in just 67 minutes, missing out on what could have been his 1,100th career victory. This loss adds to Djokovic's setbacks in his preparations for the French Open, which commences in two weeks, especially considering his previous successes in Rome, where he had clinched the title six times.
The defeat comes shortly after Djokovic was accidentally hit in the head by a falling bottle, further complicating his performance. Throughout the match, the 36-year-old displayed uncharacteristic errors and concluded the game with a double fault, reflecting his struggles to find his usual rhythm and balance.
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Reflecting on his performance, Djokovic expressed concern, stating, "Today it was as if a completely different player had been in my place. No rhythm, no tempo, no balance in a shot. It's a bit worrying." Despite reassuring fans of his well-being immediately after the incident on social media, Djokovic now intends to undergo a medical examination.
This defeat adds to Djokovic's challenging season, where he has failed to secure a tournament victory, following his semi-final exit in Monte Carlo. His departure from Rome was met with some disapproval from spectators, highlighting the pressure on the 24-time major winner as he approaches his 37th birthday on May 22nd.
In a different tennis event, Frenchman Lucas Pouille emerged victorious at the ATP100 Challenger in Mauthausen, defeating Slovakian Jozef Kovalik 6-3, 6-3 in the final. Pouille's triumph earned him 100 ATP points and a winner's check of 16,550 euros, contributing to his rise in the rankings after overcoming injury.
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