For the second year in a row, Novak Djokovic failed to reach the Monte Carlo quarterfinals after losing to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The Serb was far from his best after playing only his fourth game of the season, hoping for a better run at home in Belgrade next week.
A year ago, Novak knocked on the starting gate in the third round of Monte Carlo, falling to Daniel Evans 6-4, 7-5 in two hours and six minutes. The Briton came to Monte Carlo with four ATP wins in his career and none since 2017!
Against all odds, he secured three victories in the Principality to find himself in the quarterfinals. Novak played well against Jannik Sinner in the second round, and that was not the case a day later. The Serbian struggled with the conditions and the opponent’s slices and changes of pace to suffer the first loss of the season.
Djokovic fired 28 winners and 45 unforced errors, struggling to find momentum and spraying too many errors from his backhand wing. Daniel played better in middle-distance rallies and withstood all efforts to outplay Novak in straight sets and celebrate the most notable victory at age 30.
The Brit repelled seven of ten break chances and stole the Serb’s serve five times from seven chances. Daniel offered better tennis in the crucial moments to take down the most formidable opponent when it comes to mental toughness.
Evans kept her cool after losing serve in the first set and came back from 3-0 down in the second set to cross the finish line without playing a decider.
John McEnroe speaks about Nole
“Novak Djokovic hasn’t gotten the credit he deserves, he is a class act,” John McEnroe told Tennis365.
“I don’t agree with his decision not to get vaccinated, but I respect it. He is one of the fittest guys in the world and everything he puts into his body, he is watching carefully. “It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this situation where it has been a train wreck for him.
A total debacle. To the point where he way he was thrown out of Australia, are you kidding me? The way that all played out was just horrible, so I respect him even more that he has overcome these things. He has to be the most mentally tough player I’ve ever seen on a tennis court.
(Rafael) Nadal is the greatest effort player, but Djokovic mentally in unbelievable. What he is able to deal with and still to succeed at this extraordinary level”. McEnroe also suggested it would be “ridiculous” if Djokovic was denied the chance to play at the US Open next month due to his vaccination status.
“We have to sort this out,” he declared. “Djokovic needs to play at the US Open. Please, someone work out how we make this happen because we need this incredible champion there”.
