Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic's stay at the Monte Carlos Masters did not last long. The world No. 1 was upset by Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina, 6-3, 6-7, 6-1, ...

“I just think it’s not a big deal,” Annacone said of the loss. The Serb was broken nine times in the best-of-3 match for the first time in his career. Davidovich Fokina was the steadier player in the third set and raced out to a 5-1 lead.

A disappointing start to 2022 continued for Novak Djokovic after he exited the Monte-Carlo Masters, losing to Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his ...

This was his first match since splitting with former coach Marian Vajda for a second time, and he concluded by saying he needed to talk with his team. Nadal, 35, is currently injured but hopes to extend his Grand Slam lead by coming back in time to win a record-extending 14th French Open title. This is the third time two-time Monte-Carlo Masters champion Djokovic has lost his first match of the competition. Davidovich Fokina may have feared the script was written for a Djokovic comeback after that second set, but he rediscovered his groove to go 2-0 up early on in the third. But while the youngster celebrated the biggest result of his career to date, Djokovic will remember this date for entirely opposite reasons. It was there the 20-time Grand Slam-winner continued to falter on his own serve, trailing 4-2 before he claimed five of the last six points to fire his way level.

Novak Djokovic was beaten by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina as the world number one's return to the ATP Tour fell flat at the Monte Carlo Masters.

— ATP Tour (@atptour)April 12, 2022 — ATP Tour (@atptour)April 12, 2022 The Spaniard showed his inexperience with a needless dive at the start of the seventh game of the set, prompting injury fears and enabling Djokovic to reel off 10 points in a row as he broke back to love to wrest the upper-hand.

World number one Novak Djokovic was stunned by number 46 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 6 -7, 6-1 in the opening round at the Monte Carlo Masters.

I look up to him at every tournament and in every match he plays, so I need to enjoy every moment of the win against him as the No. 1 in Monte Carlo and in front of these people. A run of three straight breaks were followed by a love hold that saw Djokovic level at 4-4 as his opponent required treatment for some nasty grazes following an avoidable dive chasing down a shot. Djokovic was leaking errors off both wings and his drop shots lacked feel and seemed ill-conceived, with some barely reaching the net. I was working so hard to be more focused. I had to focus on every point. The Spaniard had his chances at 4-2 and 5-4 in the breaker but could not convert and Djokovic leaned upon all of his experience to reel off three points in a row and force a decider with a sizzling winner on the stretch.

Novak Djokovic's return to the tennis court did not exactly go as planned, defeated in Monte Carlo by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Fokina broke Djokovic’s serve nine times, according to the New York Times. Rafael Nadal did so instead, with his 21st – having previously been tied with Djokovic. Djokovic has not played since Feb. 25, when he was defeated in Dubai by the unranked Jiri Vesely. He was unable to play at Indian Wells or the Miami Open due to the fact that he is unvaccinated against COVID-19.