The Monte Carlo Masters, one of the most prestigious clay-court tournaments in the ATP calendar, has kicked off with a bang, but not in the way that Novak Djoković would have liked. The Serbian tennis star, who has been struggling with his form in recent months, suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo in the second round of the tournament.
Djoković, who has been dealing with inconsistent form, particularly on clay, was expected to bounce back from his previous losses in Doha and Indian Wells. However, his match against Tabilo was a stark reminder of his struggles on the surface. The 32-year-old Chilean, who has a strong record on clay, took advantage of Djoković’s errors and lack of rhythm to win the match 6:3, 6:4.
This is not the first time that Djoković has struggled against Tabilo on clay. In 2024, the Serbian tennis star suffered a similar defeat at the hands of the Chilean in Rome, losing in straight sets 2:6, 3:6. This latest defeat means that Tabilo now leads their head-to-head record 2-0, a rare feat for any player against Djoković.
So, what’s behind Djoković’s struggles on clay? Clay-court specialist, Rafael Nadal, has often spoken about the unique challenges of playing on clay, including the need for quick footwork, precise shot-making, and the ability to adapt to the changing conditions of the court. Djoković, who has traditionally excelled on hard courts, has often struggled to find his rhythm on clay, particularly in the early rounds of tournaments.
According to ATP statistics, Djoković’s win-loss record on clay is 62.3%, significantly lower than his overall win-loss record of 83.5%. In contrast, players like Nadal and Dominic Thiem, who have a strong record on clay, have win-loss records of 91.3% and 74.2% respectively.
In the aftermath of his defeat, Djoković acknowledged that he was not feeling comfortable on the court, citing a lack of practice on clay as a major factor. „I didn’t feel like myself on the court,” he said. „I didn’t have enough time to prepare on clay, and it showed in my game.”
Despite his struggles, Djoković remains one of the top-ranked players in the world, and his fans will be hoping that he can bounce back from this defeat and find his rhythm on clay. As the clay-court season heats up, Djoković will need to rediscover his form quickly if he wants to challenge for the top prizes.
In the meantime, Tabilo will be looking to capitalize on his upset win over Djoković, as he faces off against either Valentin Vacherot or Grigor Dimitrov in the third round of the tournament. With his confidence boosted by his victory over the Serbian tennis star, Tabilo will be looking to cause more upsets in the tournament.
