Novak Djokovic’s wait for a 100th ATP singles title continues after he exited the Monte Carlo Masters in a “horrible” straight-set opening loss to Alejandro Tabilo.
Djokovic, a two-time winner of the event, made 29 unforced errors compared to his 18 winners in a subdued start to the 37-year-old’s clay-court season, resulting in a 6-3 6-4 defeat.
The record 24-time men’s major champion had won the last 10 matches he had contested on clay – including his run to Olympic gold in July.
But Chilean Tabilo, who beat Djokovic on the surface at the Italian Open 11 months ago, replicated that surprise victory to reach the third round.
“I expected myself at least to have put in a decent performance. Not like this, it was horrible,” Serbia’s Djokovic said.
“I did not have high expectations. I knew I’m going to have a tough opponent and I knew I’m going to probably play pretty bad. But this bad, I didn’t expect.
“I was hoping it was not going to happen, but it was quite a high probability I’m going to play this way.
“A horrible feeling to play this way, just sorry for all the people that have to witness this.”
“A horrible feeling to play this way, just sorry for all the people that have to witness this.”
Djokovic
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