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Matteo Berrettini Halts Novak Djokovic’s Comeback Bid at Qatar Open; Djokovic words after clash
Novak Djokovic’s return came to an abrupt end on Tuesday, as he fell 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 against Matteo Berrettini in the second round of the Qatar Open. Djokovic, seeded third and given a first-round bye, was playing his first match since limping out of the Australian Open semi-finals in January. But the Serb insisted that, while he wasn’t 100 percent, fitness was not a concern. “I was outplayed by just a better player today,” he told me.
“Yes, I wasn’t at my desired level, and it could be that I’m still not moving the way I want to move, but I played without pain, so there is no excuse in that.”
“I think he played a masterclass match to be honest, tactically, and served very well, so just a very deserved win from his side.”
It was only Berrettini’s second win this year and his first over a player in the top 10 since 2023.
It was also the Italian’s first-ever victory over Djokovic. Their previous matches featured the Serb winning the Wimbledon final and the Roland Garros quarterfinals in 2021.
“Something I’ve been looking to do for a long time. I’ve played against him in the most important tournaments on tour,” the 28-year-old Italian said on court after the victory. “I wish I could have won one of those matches.”
Berrettini has struggled with injuries over the last 18 months but won three tournaments after returning to court last year.
“Really happy with my performance,” he said. “Really happy because I enjoyed my time out there, which is the most important thing.”
The first set went with serve but Berrettini took two points off Djokovic’s serve to win the tiebreak. The Italian then broke to love in the second game of the second set.
Djokovic had broken Berrettini 27 times in their four previous encounters but the Italian was comfortable on serve until the final game before finally winning on his second match point.
“A champion like Novak is always ready to come back,” Berrettini said. “You don’t have to think about match point. You have to think about the next point.”
Djokovic said that Andy Murray had agreed to continue as his coach “indefinitely” but said that he did not plan to overhaul his style.
“I am trying to improve my game, like everybody else. But my game is not going to change now drastically,” Djokovic said. “My game is what it is, the core is going to be the same.”
“There are more injuries. Things are not the same as 10 years ago, 15 years ago. I still try to take care of my body on a daily basis, and it’s more challenging now, no doubt. I still try to do my very best, given the circumstances.”
‘Cold and windy’
Alex de Minaur celebrated his birthday by beating Russian Roman Safiullin 6-1, 7-5, even though the Australian did not enjoy the weather.
“They’re tough days, these ones,” said De Minaur. “It’s cold, it’s windy, you probably don’t want to get out of bed. But once you step on court, you have to do everything you can to win.
“Whether it’s ugly or pretty tennis, you just put the ball in the court, and that’s what I did today.”
World No. 6 Daniil Medvedev defeated compatriot and defending champion Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-5, and 6-3.
Medvedev, the former world number one, hasn’t won an event since the Rome Masters in spring 2023. He was eliminated in the second round of this year’s Australian Open by young American Learner Tien.
Andrey Rublev, a third Russian past champion and the fifth seed, defeated Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-4.
