Novak Djokovic loses first-round match for first time in seven years

By SABC Sport
19th February 2025

Novak Djokovic suffered a shock straight-set defeat to Matteo Berrettini, upon his return to the court at the 2025 Qatar Open.

The 37-year-old tennis great fell 6-7(4), 2-6 to world No 35 Berrettini in the opening round of the ATP 500 event.

Berrettini produced a devastating display of power tennis to earn his first-ever win over Djokovic at the fifth attempt.

By beating the current world No 7, Berrettini recorded his first victory against a top 10 player in over two years.

The 28-year-old Italian won a tight opening set on a tiebreak and crucially secured the only break of the match in the second game of the second set.

The 2021 Wimbledon finalist and former world No 6 landed 75 percent of his first serves and hit 13 aces as he won 85 percent of his first serve points and 50 percent behind his second delivery.

Berrettini hit 33 winners in total (19 with his forehand) to 23 unforced errors, while Djokovic registered 21 winners and 18 unforced errors.

In his post-match interview, Berrettini said: "It's something I've been looking to do since a long time, obviously.

"I played him in the most important events on tour. I had the honour and pleasure to play him. I wish I could have won one of those matches as well, but I worked really hard.

"To be back here, to be back at this level, I knew my level was high. I just needed matches like this. All the hard work that I've been putting in the last months, in the last days, they worked really well today.

"I'm really happy with my performance. I really happy because I enjoyed my time out there, which is the most important thing."

Djokovic was playing his first singles match since he was forced to retire from his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev due to a hamstring tear.

This was the 24-time major winner's first defeat in his opening match at a hard-court tournament since the 2018 Miami Open, when he fell to Benoit Paire.

The Serbian joined forces in doubles with Fernando Verdasco in Doha on Monday - and the veteran pair dominated in a 6-1, 6-1 hammering of Karen Khachanov and Alexander Bublik. Former world No 7 Verdasco, a 41-year-old Spaniard, is retiring after the tournament.