'Horrible' Novak Djokovic Falls In Monte Carlo, First Win For Carlos Alcaraz

Novak Djokovic rued a "horrible" performance as he crashed out of the Monte Carlo Masters in his opening match on Wednesday, while Carlos Alcaraz staged a fightback for his first win at the tournament. The fifth-ranked Djokovic struggled to find his rhythm in a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Chilean Alejandro Tabilo in the second round, making an inauspicious start to his clay season. Djokovic, 37, went into the tournament hampered by an eye infection that has been troubling him since the semi-finals in Miami at the end of March and admitting that he did not have "very high" expectations for Monte Carlo.

As it transpired a sluggish performance meant that Tabilo, who also beat Djokovic on clay in last year's Italian Open in Rome, faced few difficulties in claiming a rare 2-0 head-to-head record against the 24-time Grand Slam winner.

"It was actually more like the worst day (at the office)," said Djokovic. "I was hoping it was not going to happen, but it was quite a high probability I'm going to play this way.