Novak Djokovic exited the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday after losing his opening second-round match 6-3, 6-4 to Chilean Alejandro Tabilo.
The 37-year-old Djokovic entered the tournament battling an eye infection that has affected him since the semi-finals in Miami at the end of March, and he confessed that he did not have “very high” hopes for Monte Carlo.
Ultimately, a lackluster performance allowed Tabilo, who had also defeated Djokovic on clay in last year’s Rome Masters, to face minimal challenges in achieving a 2-0 lead in their head-to-head record against the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
The Serbian, aiming for his 100th ATP title, has not claimed a tournament victory since winning gold at the Paris Olympics last year.
Tabilo, currently ranked 32nd in the world, will meet the winner of the match between Monegasque Valentin Vacherot and Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the round of 16.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz secured his first win at the Monte Carlo Masters, coming back from a set down to defeat Francisco Cerundolo 3-6, 6-0, 6-1.
Following a mixed tour in the United States, which included a semi-final finish in Indian Wells and an early exit against David Goffin in Miami, the 21-year-old Spaniard made a strong return to clay.
His first appearance at Monte Carlo in 2022 ended in a three-set loss to Sebastian Korda. Alcaraz started slowly against the energetic Argentine, who outlasted him in lengthy cross-court exchanges.
After achieving an early break, Alcaraz allowed four consecutive games to slip away, enabling Cerundolo to take the first set. However, after that moment, it was all Alcaraz. He conceded only one game in the following two sets as he surged to victory in one hour and 37 minutes.
The second seed has secured a spot in the last 16, where he will face German Daniel Altmaier, currently ranked 84th, who defeated French veteran Richard Gasquet 7-5, 5-7, 6-2.
