World No. 1 Novak Djokovic suffered a stunning third-round exit at the Italian Open on Sunday, marking his earliest departure from the tournament in his illustrious career. The Serbian superstar was upset by unheralded Chilean qualifier Alejandro Tabilo, who triumphed in straight sets to book a place in the quarterfinals.
Novak Djokovic's reign of dominance at the Italian Open came to an abrupt end on Sunday as the world's top-ranked player crashed out in the third round, suffering his earliest exit from the tournament in his illustrious career.
Djokovic, who has won the Italian Open twice, had looked imperious in his opening match against Lorenzo Sonego, but he was a shadow of himself against Alejandro Tabilo, who produced the performance of his life to stun the Serbian superstar 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.
The 29th-seeded Chilean qualifier seized the initiative from the outset, breaking Djokovic's serve in the very first game of the match. Tabilo, known for his aggressive baseline play and powerful serve, continued to push the envelope, forcing Djokovic into numerous errors and dictating the pace of the rallies.
The Chilean raced through the first set, breaking Djokovic's serve twice and winning 6-2. Djokovic responded with a more measured approach in the second set, utilizing his deep groundstrokes to keep Tabilo at bay. The Serbian broke back twice to level the match at 1-1, but Tabilo refused to be cowed.
With the crowd in Rome firmly behind the underdog, Tabilo rallied in the third set, breaking Djokovic's serve once again to take a 3-1 lead. Djokovic fought back, but the Chilean's resilience proved too much for the top seed, and he sealed the victory with a forehand winner on match point.
Tabilo's triumph marked Djokovic's first loss to a qualifier at the Italian Open and only his second defeat of the season. The Chilean's impressive run in Rome continues, and he will now face Argentina's Federico Delbonis in the quarterfinals.
Djokovic's early exit from the Italian Open is a major setback in his preparations for the French Open, which begins on May 22. The Serbian has been in excellent form in recent months, winning the Australian Open and the Dubai Tennis Championships, but his performance in Rome suggests that he may not be at his best heading into Roland Garros.
Rafael Nadal, Djokovic's arch-rival, also suffered an early exit from the Italian Open, losing to Spanish compatriot Fernando Verdasco in the second round. Nadal, who is seeking to win his 10th Italian Open title, has been struggling with a back injury in recent weeks, and his performance in Rome raised concerns about his fitness ahead of the French Open.
The exits of Djokovic and Nadal have opened up the draw at the Italian Open, and a number of players will be looking to take advantage of their absence. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev, and Carlos Alcaraz are among the favorites to reach the final, and the tournament promises to be a fascinating and unpredictable affair.
