Alejandro Tabilo of Chile stunned world number one Novak Djokovic with a stunning 6-2, 6-3 victory in just 67 minutes to secure a career-defining win at the Italian Open. Following a water bottle blow to the head two days earlier, six-time tournament champion Djokovic appeared off balance.
Tabilo took advantage of Djokovic’s out-of-character performance, breaking him four times while preserving an unbreakable defence and not giving up a break point.
After Fernando Gonzalez defeated Roger Federer in 2007, Tabilo became the first Chilean to defeat the world’s top player. Tabilo, who ranked 32nd overall, expressed shock and joy at the accomplishment and called the experience “unreal.”
Djokovic hasn’t made it to a single final this year, so this setback adds to a streak of unsatisfactory performances in 2024. There are questions over the Serbian’s form going into the French Open due to his troubles on clay courts.
Djokovic made it to the Monte Carlo Masters semifinals, but his early withdrawal in Rome raises questions about whether he will be ready for Roland Garros, which hosts the second Grand Slam event of the year on May 26.
