Djokovic Eliminated in Monte Carlo as Alcaraz Shines with Comeback Victory

Posted : 10 April 2025

Novak Djokovic suffered a disappointing exit from the Monte Carlo Masters, losing 6-3, 6-4 to Chile's Alejandro Tabilo in the second round. The 37-year-old Serbian struggled with his form and acknowledged that his eye infection, which has bothered him since the Miami semifinals, impacted his performance.

Djokovic admitted he had low expectations for the tournament but still found the defeat difficult to accept, describing it as "horrible." This loss marked a difficult start to his clay season, with Djokovic seeking his 100th ATP title but having not won a tournament since his gold medal in Paris last year.

Djokovic's poor performance was compounded by Tabilo, ranked 32nd in the world, who capitalized on the Serb’s mistakes. Tabilo, who had previously defeated Djokovic on clay at the Italian Open in Rome, sealed a rare victory, taking his head-to-head record against Djokovic to 2-0.

Despite the defeat, Djokovic brushed off concerns about his fitness and focused on the upcoming French Open, which remains his primary goal for the clay season. He plans to return to action in Madrid later this month, his first appearance there since 2022.

Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz made a successful comeback at Monte Carlo, securing his first-ever win at the tournament by defeating Francisco Cerundolo 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 in the second round. After a mixed American tour, Alcaraz showed his strength on clay by recovering from a set down to dominate the match.

The 21-year-old Spaniard, ranked third in the world, admitted to a slow start but adjusted his game to play more aggressively, using drop shots and net approaches to take control. Alcaraz will next face Germany's Daniel Altmaier, who triumphed over Richard Gasquet in a three-set match.

In other results, fourth seed Casper Ruud breezed past Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 6-1, while 2023 champion Andrey Rublev also advanced with a straight-set win over Gael Monfils. Daniil Medvedev, Alex de Minaur, Arthur Fils, and Lorenzo Musetti all progressed to the next round, continuing the competition's competitive momentum. The tournament marked a farewell for Richard Gasquet, who will retire after the French Open, bringing a close to his long career in Monte Carlo, where he first debuted as a 15-year-old.

Djokovic Eliminated in Monte Carlo as Alcaraz Shines with Comeback Victory

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