Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo pulled off a stunning upset at the Italian Open by defeating world number one Novak Djokovic in a match that lasted just 67 minutes. The 26-year-old Tabilo broke Djokovic four times and did not concede a single break point, securing the biggest win of his career. Djokovic, a six-time Italian Open champion, blamed a recent incident where he was hit on the head by a fan’s water bottle for his poor performance in the match.
The Serbian player expressed that the incident had a significant impact on him, causing symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and headaches. Djokovic mentioned that he received medical care and planned to undergo scans to assess the extent of his injuries. The defeat has left Djokovic without a final appearance in 2024 and has only played six matches on clay leading up to the French Open, which may affect his preparation for the Grand Slam tournament.
Tabilo’s victory marks the first time a Chilean player has beaten a world number one in 17 years, with the last occurrence being Fernando Gonzalez’s win over Roger Federer in 2007. Tabilo, ranked number 32 in the world, described the experience as incredible and expressed his disbelief at the outcome. Djokovic, on the other hand, admitted that he needs to improve significantly to have a chance at winning the upcoming French Open.
The loss in Rome comes after Djokovic’s semifinal appearance at the Monte Carlo Masters, indicating a less-than-ideal start to the clay court season for the Serbian player. Djokovic’s struggles in recent tournaments raise concerns about his form heading into the French Open, where he aims to secure another Grand Slam title. Despite the setback, Djokovic remains determined to enhance his performance and compete at his best in the upcoming tournaments.
