“Sorry for all the people that had to witness this”: Novak Djokovic apologises for ‘horrible’ display at Monte-Carlo Masters
“Just Horrible”: Novak Djokovic Apologizes After Stunning Monte Carlo Defeat to Tabilo
Novak Djokovic had no excuses after a shock early exit at the Monte-Carlo Masters, suffering a straight-sets defeat—6-3, 6-4—to Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo. It marks the second time in less than a year that Tabilo has taken down the 24-time Grand Slam champion on clay.
Djokovic, never one to sugarcoat his performances, delivered a blunt post-match confession.
“Just horrible,” he said. “A horrible feeling to play this way, and just sorry for all the people that had to witness this.”
The Serbian star entered Monte Carlo looking to build on a promising Miami Open run, where he reached the final before falling to rising Czech teen Jakub Mensik. But this return to clay—his first match on the surface since winning Olympic gold in Paris last summer—went sideways from the start.
A Stat Sheet to Forget
Djokovic committed 29 unforced errors and managed to land just 54% of his first serves, winning 67% of those points. His second serve struggled even more, yielding just 46%. Tabilo, by contrast, was sharp and composed—hitting 63% of first serves and winning a whopping 81% of those points.
This latest loss adds to growing concerns about Djokovic’s form. He hasn’t lifted a trophy since the 2023 ATP Finals and now faces increasing pressure with Roland Garros just around the corner.
“I expected myself to at least put in a decent performance—not like this,” Djokovic admitted. “I knew it could be rough, but not this rough.”
The press conference was short, the tone somber, and the frustration clear.
What’s Next?
Djokovic will now regroup and prepare for the Madrid Open, which kicks off April 21. He’s expected to be seeded fourth, and fans will be watching closely to see if he can rebound from this clay-court stumble.
As for Tabilo, this win marks another career highlight against a tennis legend. He now moves on to face Grigor Dimitrov, who is also in strong form after defeating both Nicolas Jarry and wildcard Valentin Vacherot.
👉 Do you think Djokovic can bounce back this clay season? Or are we witnessing a changing of the guard? Let us know in the comments.
