Surprise Upset: Novak Djokovic Crashes Out of Italian Open in Third Round
Tennis legend Novak Djokovic faced a surprising defeat at the Italian Open on Sunday, as he was upset by 29th-seeded Alejandro Tabilo in the third round.
The six-time Rome champion put on one of his worst performances at the tournament, admitting that his display was “concerning.” Djokovic struggled with rhythm, tempo, and balance, starting the match with a double-fault and ultimately losing 6-2, 6-3 in just 68 minutes.
“Crazy, I can’t believe it,” Tabilo said after his victory, which he described as “crazy.”
Tabilo capitalized on Djokovic’s off-day, producing 22 winners to the Serbian’s 14. The third-round loss marked Djokovic’s earliest exit at the Italian Open, where he had never gone out before the quarterfinals.
The top-ranked player also revealed that he had been dealing with headaches following a water bottle incident after his opening match on Friday. However, he stated that the physical issue did not impact his game as much as the lack of coordination and rhythm.
Djokovic’s early departure follows that of fellow tennis legend Rafael Nadal, who was also upset in the third round. With both iconic players crashing out, the Italian Open has seen some unexpected results as the clay-court season heats up ahead of the French Open.
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