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The season was already over three months old when Novak Djokovic entered his second tournament in Monte Carlo. A two-time champion lost to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 6-7, 6-1 in two hours and 54 minutes. Thus, Djokovic stayed at only two wins in 2022 and experienced his worst Masters 1000 result since Miami 2018!
Novak and Alejandro have trained in Marbella many times, knowing each other well. The Serb lost only a few games against the Spaniard in their previous two encounters in 2021 but could not find the rhythm in this one. Struggling to impose his strokes in windy conditions, Novak sprayed too many mistakes and hit the exit door in only his second ATP tournament of the season.
Last year, Djokovic experienced a third-round loss in Monte Carlo to Daniel Evans and did not drop too many points. The Spaniard defended seven out of 11 break chances and delivered nine breaks from 20 opportunities to control the scoreboard in sets one and three.
Novak fired 27 winners and 51 unforced errors, and Alejandro landed 37 winners and 34 mistakes for a much better ratio. The Spaniard stayed in touch with the Serb in the shortest exchanges and took charge in the more advanced ones to emerge at the top.
Djokovic opened a 40-15 lead in the encounter's first game before facing two break points. He defended them and held with a service winner to avoid an early setback. Davidovich Fokina made a rock-solid start in his games and held with ease twice to keep the pressure on the other side.
He broke Novak in the third game after the Serb's loose drop shot to forge the advantage. The Spaniard claimed an extended rally in the fifth game and placed a forehand crosscourt winner for a 4-1 lead after 25 minutes. Novak pulled one break back in game six to reduce the deficit and held after deuce in the next one for 3-4.
Alejandro stayed focused and delivered his third break of serve at 5-3 after Novak's forehand error to wrap up the opener in 44 minutes. The Spaniard saved a break point at the beginning of the second set and seized the second break chance in the next one after a 27-stroke rally for 2-0.
Novak Djokovic lost to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in three sets in Monte Carlo.
Alejandro fended off five break opportunities in the third game to cement the lead and move 3-0 ahead and closer to the finish line. Djokovic pulled the break back in game five after Davidovich Fokina's routine forehand error and gained some boost.
Still, world no. 1 quickly lost it in the next game after his opponent's drop shot winner for a 4-2 gap. Novak broke back at 15 in game seven to prolong his chances despite playing miles below his best. Alejandro received a medical timeout on his right hand ahead of the eighth game, and Novak held at love with an ace down the T line for 4-4.
The Spaniard lost the ground a bit in those moments and hit a double fault to get broken at love in game nine and push the Serb 5-4 ahead. Instead of bringing the set home, Djokovic played a terrible forehand in the tenth game to get the rival back on the positive side.
The set went into a tie break, and Novak had to win it to remain in contention. The Spaniard forced the Serb's error for a 2-0 advantage and fired a backhand crosscourt winner for 3-1. Novak netted a backhand in the sixth point to fall 4-2 behind before claiming the following two points.
Davidovich Fokina sprayed a forehand error at 5-5 to face a set point, and Djokovic seized it with a perfect forehand down the line winner to introduce a decider. Alejandro made a better start and grabbed a break in the opening game for an early advantage.
The Spaniard squandered three more break chances in the third game, and the Serb closed it with a forehand winner to stay within one break deficit. Davidovich Fokina saved a break chance in the fourth game with a forehand winner and held after Djokovic's poor drop shot attempt.
With nothing left in the tank, the Serb netted a tired backhand in the fifth game to fall 4-1 behind. Novak saved a match point in game seven with a forehand winner before Alejandro seized the second to celebrate a notable victory advance into the third round.