Novak Djokovic’s Comeback Cut Short by Matteo Berrettini at Qatar Open
Novak Djokovic’s highly anticipated return from injury faced an early exit at the Qatar Open, where he succumbed to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini with a score of 7-6 (7/4), 6-2. This match marked Djokovic’s first competitive appearance since his withdrawal from the Australian Open semifinal due to injury.
“I was outplayed by a better player today,” Djokovic admitted after the match. Despite being pain-free, he acknowledged that he wasn’t at his desired level. “I played without pain, so there is no excuse for that,” he added, showing humility in defeat.
Berrettini celebrated his first victory against a top-10 player since 2023 and his inaugural win against Djokovic. “He played a masterclass match, tactically, and served very well,” Djokovic lauded. Berrettini expressed his elation, stating, “I wish I could have won one of those matches” against the Serbian legend in their previous encounters.
The opening set was fiercely contested, with Berrettini clinching it in a tiebreaker by winning crucial points against Djokovic’s serve. He then broke Djokovic early in the second set, establishing control. While Djokovic had previously broken Berrettini’s serve 27 times in their four matchups, the Italian’s solid service games proved impenetrable this time, leading to victory on his second match point.
Looking ahead, Djokovic remains committed to refining his game without making drastic changes. “I still try to take care of my body daily, and it’s more challenging now,” he reflected on the evolving nature of professional tennis.
As the Qatar Open progresses, other notable matches included Alex De Minaur defeating Roman Safiullin and Daniil Medvedev overcoming Karen Khachanov in a thrilling contest.
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