Novak Djokovic opened his clay-court season with a surprising loss to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the Monte Carlo Masters 2022 tennis tournament on Tuesday. (More Tennis News)
Davidovich Fokina stunned the top-ranked Serb 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1 in the second round to hand Djokovic another setback as he tries to move on from the controversy surrounding his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
It makes for rare back-to-back losses for Djokovic, who had not played since being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships in February 바카라 his only previous tournament this year after he was barred from playing at the Australian Open.
Djokovic struggled from the start as the 46th-ranked Spaniard broke him early to pull ahead 4-1 before another break handed him the first set. Davidovich Fokina kept up the pressure and led 3-0 in the second before Djokovic clawed back.
But the Serb continued to struggle on his serve and was broken three times in the decider. 바카라He was the better player,바카라 Djokovic said. 바카라I was hanging on the ropes the entire match.바카라 The Serb said he was too exhausted to put up a fight in the third set.
바카라I collapsed,바카라 Djokovic said. 바카라I just ran out of gas completely ... If you can바카라t stay in the rally, not feeling your legs on the clay, it바카라s mission impossible.바카라 Djokovic had beaten Davidovich Fokina in straight sets twice last year, in Rome and at the Tokyo Olympics.
바카라I바카라m so happy for the win today,바카라 Davidovich Fokina said. 바카라I missed (Djokovic) on the tour.바카라 Djokovic could not defend his Australian Open title in January after he was deported from the country for not being vaccinated.
He had to skip tournaments in Indian Wells, California, and Miami because he couldn바카라t travel to the United States for the same reason. The authorities in France and Monaco lifted most COVID-19 restrictions last month, allowing people who aren바카라t vaccinated into the country and back into restaurants, sports arenas and other venues.
That means Djokovic will be able to play at the French Open, which remains his 바카라big goal of the clay season.바카라 바카라I knew that it바카라s going to take some time for me to really feel my best on the clay,바카라 Djokovic said. 바카라I have to accept defeat and keep working ... and hopefully build my form for Roland Garros.바카라
The French Open starts on May 22 in Paris. Defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece eased into the third round by beating 2019 winner Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-0. First-round winners included David Goffin of Belgium and Taylor Fritz of the United States.
