Monte Carlo — Novak Djokovic endured a day to forget at the Monte Carlo Masters after suffering a stunning straight-sets defeat to Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo.
The world No. 1 was brutally honest in the aftermath of the loss, describing it as one of the worst performances of his career and apologizing to fans for having to witness it.
Speaking in a candid post-match press conference, Novak Djokovic didn’t hide his disappointment. When asked if it was “not the best day in the office,” the Serbian star replied with a hint of sarcasm: “Best day? It was more like the worst day.”
Djokovic admitted that while he had come into the match with low expectations, he was still shocked by the level of his performance. “I was hoping it was not going to happen. But it was quite a high probability that I’m going to play this way. Just horrible. Horrible feeling to play this way… and I’m just sorry for all the people that have to witness this,” Djokovic said.
There had been some concern during practice earlier in the day when Novak Djokovic was seen holding his arm and receiving help from his team. However, he was quick to dismiss any suggestion of injury. “It’s all good. Just a minor, minor thing,” he said. Asked about his eye, he simply added, “There’s no injury.”
Despite the disappointment, the World No. 5 was clear about his target for the clay-court season. When asked about his goals, his response was direct: “Roland Garros. That’s it,” he said with a smile.
He further acknowledged that he knew facing Tabilo would be a tough challenge, but confessed he hadn’t anticipated playing so poorly. “I knew I was gonna have a tough opponent… and I knew I’m gonna probably play pretty bad. But this is bad… I didn’t expect,” he said.
With Monte Carlo behind him, Djokovic now sets his sights on the French Open, where he hopes to return to form and compete for another Grand Slam title.