Novak Djokovic loses clay-court opener at Monte Carlo Masters
Novak Djokovic opened his claycourt season with a surprising loss to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday.
Davidovich Fokina stunned the top-ranked Serb 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1 in the second round to hand Djokovic another setback as he tries to move on from the controversy surrounding his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID19.
It makes for rare back-to-back losses for Djokovic, who had not played since being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships in February — his only previous tournament this year after he was barred from playing at the Australian Open.
Djokovic struggled from the start as the 46th-ranked Spaniard broke him early to pull ahead 4-1 before another break handed him the first set. Davidovich Fokina kept up the pressure and led 3-0 in the second before Djokovic clawed back. But the Serb continued to struggle on his serve and was broken three times in the decider.
"He was the better player," Djokovic said. "I was hanging on the ropes the entire match."
The Serb said he was too exhausted to put up a fight in the third set.
"I collapsed," Djokovic said. "I just ran out of gas completely ... If you can't stay in the rally, not feeling your legs on the clay, it's mission impossible."
Djokovic had beaten Davidovich Fokina in straight sets twice last year, in Rome and at the Tokyo Olympics.
"I'm so happy for the win today," Davidovich Fokina said. "I missed (Djokovic) on the tour."
Djokovic could not defend his Australian Open title in January after he was deported from the country for not being vaccinated. He had to skip tournaments in Indian Wells, California, and Miami because he couldn't travel to the United States for the same reason.
The authorities in France and Monaco lifted most COVID-19 restrictions last month, allowing people who aren't vaccinated into the country and back into restaurants, sports arenas and other venues.
That means Djokovic will be able to play at the French Open, which remains his "big goal of the clay season."
"I knew that it's going to take some time for me to really feel my best on the clay," Djokovic said. "I have to accept defeat and keep working ... and hopefully build my form for Roland Garros."
The French Open starts on May 22 in Paris.
Defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece eased into the third round by beating 2019 winner Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-0.
First-round winners included David Goffin of Belgium and Taylor Fritz of the United States.
Former No. 1 Kim Clijsters retires from pro tennis again
Four-time Grand Slam singles champion Kim Clijsters has retired from professional tennis again.
The 38-year-old Clijsters, who ended her second retirement in 2019 after a seven-year hiatus, announced Tuesday that she will "no longer play official tournaments."
"I can't wait to see what new adventures will cross my path," the former No. 1 player wrote on Instagram.
Clijsters, who already is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, won the U.S. Open for the first time in 2005 and walked away from tennis two years later at age 23 shortly before getting married.
The Belgian player then took about two years off while having a daughter but returned and won the 2009 U.S. Open. She won another championship at Flushing Meadows in 2010, then added an Australian Open title the following season and moved back atop the rankings.
Clijsters, who has three children with her husband, Brian Lynch, left the tour again in 2012. They live in suburban New Jersey.
"It's been on my mind for a while," Clijsters told WTA media. "I still love to hit the ball. With my schedule three, four days was enough to keep my rhythm under control but definitely not good enough if I decided to play another tournament. Say, if I picked Australia, it's three, four weeks. That's just not possible at this stage in our family life. Life just sort of takes over, right?"
Her last official match was in October when she lost in three sets to Katerina Siniakova in the first round at Indian Wells.