Novak Djokovic

Ahead of the Monte Carlos Masters, Djokovic had played just three matches this year because of restrictions over his COVID-19 vaccination status.

"I just ran out of the gas completely," he added. "I knew Nole didn't have the confidence because he didn't play a lot this season. "But then I collapsed If you can't stay in the rally, not feeling your legs on the clay, it's mission impossible. I had my chances in the beginning of the match and I took them. - "I just ran out of the gas completely," he said in a post-match interview.

When Neymar and Marco Verratti met Novak Djokovic, it wasn't long before a football -- or more accurately, an oversized tennis ball -- appeared.

It's perhaps harsh to critique the football juggling skills of a 20-time Grand Slam tennis champion but he acquitted himself well. A round of keepy-uppies was attempted despite Neymar opting to wear a pair of clunky hiking boots for the occasion. Djokovic is preparing to make his return to the circuit having only played three competitive matches so far this year.

Novak Djokovic has been dumped out of the Monte Carlo Masters by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who beat the world No 1 on Tuesday afternoon.

But despite a resilient display, Davidovich Fokina held his nerve and won another match, making it 3-0. While the 37-year-old was beaten in the first round of that event there were few signs of rustiness against world number 36 Bublik on Court Rainier III as he raced through the first set in only 27 minutes to seize the early advantage in the contest. Meanwhile, Stan Wawrinka marked his return to Tour level competition for the first time in 13 months by showing glimpses of his old form at the Monte Carlo Masters on Monday. Novak Djokovic was beaten by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the Monte Carlo Masters Novak Djokovic has been dumped out of the Monte Carlo Masters by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who beat the world No 1 in just under three hours on Tuesday afternoon. World No 1 Novak Djokovic is DUMPED OUT of Monte Carlo Masters by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his first match since mid-February... with vaccine-sceptic Serb's preparations for his French Open title defence cut short

Acclaimed tennis coach Gabriel Jaramillo has hailed the Big 3 of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic for their stellar accomplishments and longevity.

"Then there is Federer, who makes everything easy and plays more beautiful than anyone, but I would say that Novak is the most complete of the three." "It's difficult [...] Being younger, because of his style of play and because of the way he moves on the court, I would say that Djokovic can go further," said Jaramillo. Acclaimed tennis coach Gabriel Jaramillo has hailed the Big 3 of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic for their stellar accomplishments and longevity.

In February, he lost his No. 1 ranking for the first time in two years after a quarterfinal exit in the Dubai Tennis Championships, though he regained the top ...

- "If you're trying to be the best in history and you're going to give up the race for some vaccines, you have to be the king of stupidity," former world No. 1 Marcelo RíostoldLa Tercera. "I believe that at first it was out of fear, but now he is being too arrogant." - But when France — and Monaco,where Djokovic lives— last month lifted most of its COVID restrictions, it cleared the way for him to compete at both Monte Carlo and next month's French Open, where he's the reigning champ. - In March, he missed both the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California, and the Miami Open because his unvaccinated statusbarred him from enteringthe U.S.

CARLOS ALCARAZ could meet Novak Djokovic in the Monte Carlo quarter-finals if both players make it to the last eight.

"I still feel motivation to be on the tour and compete with young guys and try to challenge for the biggest titles. “I hope to face Djokovic in the quarter-finals,” the young Spaniard said ahead of the tournament. "Sometimes it’s difficult but I am trying to make it easy," he continued.

Follow match Novak Djokovic vs Alejandro Davidovich live stream information and score online, prediction, TV channel, lineups preview, start date and result ...

The most recent was in the round of 16 at the Olympic Games in Tokyo last July, where Djokovic advanced to the round after winning in two sets by 6-3 and 6-1, in a match that lasted one hour and 24 minutes. However, in the quarterfinals he was surprised by Vasley and the Czech left out of the tournament the number 1, which he still is despite the few matches he has played this year and only lost a week to the Russian Medvedev, who is now on leave after having to undergo surgery. Six days later he traveled to the Netherlands to play the ATP Rotterdam, but he could not beat Tsitsipas, although the match was disputed and was decided in the third set. The winner of the match between Novak Djokovic and Alejandro Davidovich will face this Italian tennis player, who has just won. I've been looking forward to getting back into a competitive tournament, so this is the best place for me to start. When this match is over, the clash between the Spaniard and the Serbian will start;

Novak Djokovic has endured a miserable start to 2022, having temporarily lost his world No 1 status to Daniil Medvedev after competing in just one ...

His pushed Rafael Nadal all the way in Indian Wells last month and will certainly give the Serbian a run for his money should they clash this week. "I try to be optimistic in life and consider myself a very optimistic, positive person," Djokovic told reporters ahead of his opening match at the Monte Carlo Masters against Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. "But it has been a challenging few months and something I never experienced before. Despite being the overwhelming favourite to take the title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships back in February, Djokovic was dumped out at the quarter-final stage following a straight sets against Jiri Vesely. “I thought the same (initially), but then I started travelling and I had to take it. It has been a rough year for the 20-time Grand Slam champion, who has competed in just one tournament in 2022 due to being unvaccinated.

Tsonga won his second and final Masters title in Toronto in 2014.

"Because it was all new. "Because it was all new. Beating them one after the other was very complicated, and that week I was able to do that after a difficult period I went through with my team, with Thiery, with Michele, with my brother, with friends. After the loss, Tsonga was asked to pick his best Masters victory. In 2008, Tsonga became a Masters champion after defeating David Nalbandian in the Paris final. Everything was extraordinary," Tsonga explained.

Novak Djokovic's miserable 2022 continued on Tuesday after he was defeated in three sets by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the Monte Carlo Masters in his ...

“I’m going to look with my team into reasons why that was the case and go back to the drawing board. I have to accept the defeat and keep working,” he added. “I was hanging on the ropes the entire match.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC crashed out of the Monte Carlo Masters in his opening match.

He will be back in action at next week’s Serbia Open, held in his own Novak Tennis Centre in his home of Belgrade, where his brother Djordje is the tournament director. The world No 46 managed to break his opponent nine times, holding 20 break points throughout the match. Djokovic returned to the tour in Monte Carlo after being unable to play Indian Wells and Miami over his unvaccinated status.

Novak Djokovic's lack of match fitness caught up with him at the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday as the world No 1 exited the event at the hands of Alejandro ...

"I knew Nole didn't have the confidence because he didn't play a lot this season. Available to download now on - iPhone & iPad and Android Novak Djokovic's defeat to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina marks the first time he has lost his opening match at a tournament since falling to Marin Klizan in Barcelona in 2018; the world No 1 ran out of steam in the deciding set to lose in two hours and 54 minutes

Novak Djokovic's stay at the Monte Carlos Masters did not last long. The world No. 1 was upset by Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina, 6-3, 6-7, 6-1, ...

“I just think it’s not a big deal,” Annacone said of the loss. The Serb was broken nine times in the best-of-3 match for the first time in his career. Davidovich Fokina was the steadier player in the third set and raced out to a 5-1 lead.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC crashed out to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in what was his first match since February 24.

It was the 22-year-old's turn to save a break point before he managed to secure a double-break lead over the top seed at 4-1. The world No 46 then hit three back-to-back double faults to get broken and allow Djokovic to serve for the set at 5-4 but the breaks continued, with the Spaniard then getting back on serve at 5-5. The second set was something of a rollercoaster, with the world No 46's form initially continuing when he came from 30-40 down to break for a 2-0 lead and was then forced to fend off five break points in a 14-minute, eight-deuce game, eventually holding for 3-0.

A disappointing start to 2022 continued for Novak Djokovic after he exited the Monte-Carlo Masters, losing to Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his ...

This was his first match since splitting with former coach Marian Vajda for a second time, and he concluded by saying he needed to talk with his team. Nadal, 35, is currently injured but hopes to extend his Grand Slam lead by coming back in time to win a record-extending 14th French Open title. This is the third time two-time Monte-Carlo Masters champion Djokovic has lost his first match of the competition. Davidovich Fokina may have feared the script was written for a Djokovic comeback after that second set, but he rediscovered his groove to go 2-0 up early on in the third. But while the youngster celebrated the biggest result of his career to date, Djokovic will remember this date for entirely opposite reasons. It was there the 20-time Grand Slam-winner continued to falter on his own serve, trailing 4-2 before he claimed five of the last six points to fire his way level.

After being unable to play in the sunshine swing events in the US due to his unvaccinated status, Djokovic made his return at the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday ...

He can't have gone through all that calmly. "You've got to imagine what all that must have been like. "But you can also go back to the US Open in 2020 when he was disqualified.

For the second straight year, Novak Djokovic failed to reach the Monte Carlo quarter-final following a loss to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

You can never be confident coming into such a big match like the one against Novak. It's a big win, and I'm delighted that I got through, especially being a break down and facing troubles in the first set. A year ago, Novak hit the exit door in the third round in Monte Carlo, falling to Daniel Evans 6-4, 7-5 in two hours and six minutes. Daniel delivered better tennis in the pivotal moments to topple the most formidable rival when talking about mental strength.

Justine Henin believes Novak Djokovic is feeling the weight of all the controversies and issues that have engulfed him over the past couple of years.

"Not just the Australian Open and not just all the effort he made to try and win his 21st Grand Slam at the 2021 US Open either. From there, he then had the tough [final] defeat [to Rafa Nadal] at Roland Garros. Then he had the abdominal injury and his somewhat miraculous win at the Australian Open in 2021." "He can't have gone through all that calmly." 2022 has arguably been even worse for the Serb so far, given he was deported from Australia due to his unvaccinated status. Henin reckons that even though Djokovic is mentally tough, he is susceptible to periods of doubt and turmoil. Within months, he was handed a brutal 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 defeat at the hands of Rafael Nadal in the 2020 Roland Garros final.

Novak Djokovic's return to the tennis court did not exactly go as planned, defeated in Monte Carlo by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Fokina broke Djokovic’s serve nine times, according to the New York Times. Rafael Nadal did so instead, with his 21st – having previously been tied with Djokovic. Djokovic has not played since Feb. 25, when he was defeated in Dubai by the unranked Jiri Vesely. He was unable to play at Indian Wells or the Miami Open due to the fact that he is unvaccinated against COVID-19.

Novak Djokovic reflects on his opening-round loss against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Tuesday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

“I didn't like the way I felt physically in the third. “I knew a few days ago when I spoke to you that it's going to take some time for me to really feel my best on the clay,” Djokovic said. The 34-year-old does not have much time to get back on track. “I was hanging on the ropes the entire match. “I always believed that I could come back and win the match, and I stayed there even though a lot of things were against me in terms of how I felt on the court. The Serbian urged the crowd to get involved and had a big smile on his face as the fans cheered for him

Novak Djokovic's lack of match fitness caught up with him at the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday as the world No 1 exited the event at the hands of Alejandro ...

But it's OK, I have to accept the defeat and keep working." "I knew Nole didn't have the confidence because he didn't play a lot this season. "I knew a few days ago when I spoke to you... Available to download now on - iPhone & iPad and Android We go out on the court to compete and try to win against each other," Djokovic said. I just ran out of the gas completely.

Unseeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina advanced to the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday after beating world number one Novak Djokovic in ...

"I knew Nole didn't have the confidence because he didn't play a lot this season... Djokovic, who only played three matches in Dubai ahead of the Masters 1000 event in Monaco, struggled to find his range early in the contest as Spaniard Davidovich Fokina raced to a 4-1 lead before taking the opening set on Court Rainier III. Monte Carlo — World number one Novak Djokovic crashed to a three-set defeat in only his fourth match of the season, falling 6-3 6-7(5) 6-1 to unseeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday.

Novak Djokovic said he “ran out of gas” as he lost his opening match at the Monte Carlo Masters in just his second tournament of the year following his ...

“I expected this match to be a really tough match, a physical battle, and that’s what it was. “That’s historically always been the case. “I was hanging on the ropes the entire match. “Just couldn’t really stay in the rally with him. He failed to do so at the first attempt but recovered in the tiebreak to force a decider. The Spaniard surged 3-0 ahead in the second only for Djokovic to win five of the next six games and serve for the set at 5-4.

Thanks to the missteps of Daniil Medvedev, the 34-year-old from Belgrade shows up in Monte Carlo as ATP number 1. The 20-time Grand Slam champion will face ...

Last 4-5 months have been really challenging for me mentally and emotionally, but I will try to leave all of that behind and move on,” Novak Djokovic said. I still feel motivation to be on the tour and compete with young guys and try to challenge for the biggest titles. These first months of 2022 have not been easy for Novak Djokovic at all.

Novak Djokovic has only been able to play three official matches at the start of the season. Due to his choice not to get vaccinated against Coronavirus, ...

Men's world No. 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic lost his opening match at the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, ranked 46th in ...

"I'm trying to deal with it on a daily basis or weekly basis, whatever. "You have to deal with everything that probably has been dormant inside and is maybe waiting to come out," Djokovic said as he reflected on the Australian Open debacle. Sunday ahead of the game in Monte Carlo that he is ready to put a difficult start to the year behind him.

Novak Djokovic crashed out in his opening match at the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday as the world number one played in just his second tournament of the ...

I have to accept the defeat and keep working." "That's historically always been the case. "Just couldn't really stay in the rally with him. "I was hanging on the ropes the entire match. "I expected this match to be a really tough match, a physical battle, and that's what it was. "But it's okay.

At the Monte Carlo Masters, only the second tournament that the top-ranked Djokovic has played in five months, an unseeded 22-year-old handed him an upset.

He spent time in detention as his appeal was adjudicated and was deported on the eve of the Australian Open. After also missing the American tournaments in Indian Wells, Calif., and Miami, he has played just four singles matches in 2022. Ivanisevic was with Djokovic in January in Australia, where he arrived to defend his Australian Open title only to have his visa revoked because of his vaccination status. Eyes wide, Djokovic put a finger to his ear and nodded his head confidently as he stared at the crowd before howling with relief. But Djokovic’s game and attitude were close to unrecognizable down the stretch as he raced through his service games and missed shot after shot. He often plays like a goalkeeper: flinging himself into the air to pursue a wide shot or a serve down the T. Against Djokovic, he was soon covered in red clay, which remains his best surface despite winning the Wimbledon boys title on grass in 2017. The concern for him is why he was so spent. This time, Davidovich did not flinch: finishing off a champion who had beaten him soundly in their two previous matches and who has long been his tennis role model (they practiced together in Spain during the pandemic). Davidovich, 22, looks like a Viking prepared to make mayhem with his head closely shaven on the sides and his fair hair pulled back into a knot. He has won 20 major singles titles, nearly completed the Grand Slam last season and has been the second-best men’s player on clay for the last decade behind Rafael Nadal. Men’s tennis is bristling with depth and young stars on the rise like Davidovich’s 18-year-old compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, who recently won the Miami Open. I was really chasing the result constantly.” Off target from the start, he scrapped valiantly before fading to lose his opening match against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC'S wretched year continued after he was knocked out early on in the Monte Carlo Masters on his return to action.

The tennis legend will be in action next week on home soil at the Serbia Open in Belgrade and will hope to produce a better showing in front of his adoring fans. “I was hanging on the ropes the entire match. “The last four, five months have been really challenging for me mentally and emotionally, but here I am and I try to leave all that behind and move on," he said.