Novak Djokovic eliminated in the round of 16 of Monte-Carlo by Lorenzo Musetti

Arnaud Clément had warned: the recovery on clay for Novak Djokovic is rarely easy. Already jostled by qualified Ivan Gakhov for his entry into the running in the second round of Monte-Carlo (7-6, 6-2), the Serb was never able to find the solution during the next round, and was finally showered by the enthusiasm of Lorenzo Musetti (4-6, 7-5, 6-4), Thursday April 13.

In the tone in the first set (6-4), the world number one showed considerable relaxation during the second set, which the Italian knew how to exploit perfectly. Hampered by cloudy weather and by an opponent who had already caused him a lot of problems during their first clash at Roland-Garros 2021, the Serb stammered his tennis. After losing his service five times, “Nole” ended up giving in and dropping the second set to the Italian (7-5), offensive and consistent in his shots.

One hour break

Frustrated, annoyed and again abused at the start of the third round against a public who became snide out of the desire to ignite the fight a little more, Djokovic even lost his support on a backhand, before being saved for a while by the rain at 1-1. At Roland-Garros, the Serb had shown a completely different face after a short stint in the locker room when he was down two sets to zero. Not this time. Yet calmer but physically borrowed, he was broken at 3-3 and was never able to regain the upper hand over the 21st in the world, who won his fifth match against a world top 10.

Absent from the American tour due to his vaccination situation, Djokovic had come to the Principality to reassure himself and embark on Roland-Garros, where he could delight a 23rd Grand Slam from the host, Rafael Nadal, in early June. The world number one finally leaves with more doubts than certainties. And confirms that the Rainier III court is not a garden for him (he has not crossed the quarters since his victory in 2015). But Monte-Carlo is not Roland: despite chaotic journeys in Monaco since that date, he has reached the last four at Porte d’Auteuil five times out of eight.

For Musetti, the feeling is immense. Great hope of world tennis at only 21 years old, but who had only four wins for seven defeats at the start of the season, he ensures the presence of an Italian in the semi-finals since it is Jannik Sinner who will be his opponent in the quarters. . Among the other favorites, Holger Rune took advantage of Matteo Berrettini’s package to join the quarters without playing. Stefanos Tsitsipas will also be there against Taylor Fritz, as will qualified Jan-Lennard Struff, who released a doubtful Casper Ruud.