Novak Djokovic was stunned in the first round of the Qatar Open, losing 7-6(4), 6-2 to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini on Tuesday. The loss is the earliest exit for the Serbian at a tournament in almost two years, MySportDab Reports.
Former world number six Berrettini scored a dazzling win over Djokovic for his first victory in five meetings. The 28-year-old finished the match in one hour and 35 minutes, giving him his first top 10 win since January 2023.
“It’s something I’ve looking for in a moment,” Berrettini said. “I’ve played Novak in some of the biggest tournaments and always wanted to get a win off him.”
It was Djokovic’s first singles match since he retired in the Australian Open semi-finals with a hamstring injury, and he was hunting for his 100th ATP title. Despite saying one week prior that he was “almost fully recovered”, the 24-time Grand Slam champion struggled against an inspired Berrettini.
The world’s No. 35 player, who was the ATP’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2023, next faces Tallon Griekspoor.
Djokovic, who had not lost an opening-round match since the 2022 Monte Carlo Masters, will now turn his attentions to the doubles event. He teams with Fernando Verdasco in the quarter-finals against Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.
