The Monte Carlo Masters has been shelling upset after upset. Last night it was Andy Murray and today Novak Djokovic has bowed out of the event at the hands of a spirited David Goffin.
The two time Monte Carlo Champion suffered his first defeat at the hands of the Belgian, winning their previous 5 encounters rather easily. But Djokovic’s form in 2017 hasn’t been the greatest and this loss causes him to slump further down.
Djokovic had missed the Miami Open, citing an elbow injury and was making a comeback at the Monte Carlo Masters. He scraped through the first two rounds, winning against Gilles Simon and Pablo Carreno Busta in three sets. And today David Goffin’s challenge just proved to be a little too much for the former world number one.
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Djokovic started off the match in the worst possible way, getting broken in his first service game and then getting broken again to hand Goffin a comfortable 4-1 lead. Goffin won the first set in a mere 31 minutes.
The second set was about a rejuvenated Djokovic. He suddenly found his mojo back and was able to assert some dominance over the Belgian. Djokovic then closed out the set at took an early break in the decider, and was tantalisingly close to the second break as well, before a spirited Goffin found a way out.
Goffin then broke back and finally managed to close out the match, thanks to a controversial decision from the chair umpire, when he gave a time violation to Djokovic at deuce(when he had already saved 4 match points).
This is how Twitter reacted:
When you see Novak #Djokovic's start of 2017 season pic.twitter.com/DEK4ig9sgr
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) April 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/DropVolleys/status/855471066113757184
Crisis still seems too strong a word for Djokovic's situation but it's a deep slump. He's won just one of his last 10 tournaments.
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) April 21, 2017
Though #Djokovic lost that. That's probably the best we've seen him in months…
— Live Tennis (@livetennis) April 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/Stumperss/status/855490498286452736
I don't think Djokovic played badly in the 2nd and 3rd set at all but the aura of "barely beatable" from last year isn't there anymore.
— René Denfeld (@Renestance) April 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/Mikno78/status/855468990566715392
More reactions on the next page
Goffin's first career win over a Big Four
0-5 vs Murray
1-5 vs Djokovic
0-5 vs Federer
Never faced Nadal.— José Morgado (@josemorgado) April 21, 2017
Djokovic through April
2015: 30-2
2016: 28-2
2017: 14-4— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) April 21, 2017
Djokovic was using his dropshots very effectively until the very last game where he hit 2 bad ones on consecutive points..
— Nakul (@TieBreakBagel) April 21, 2017
Federer or Nadal will be number 1 at end of the year, it's all surreal tbh. Djokovic or Murray need to find topform over summer to challenge
— Ristevski serve (@opentenn) April 21, 2017
Djokovic's turn to fall in Monte Carlo https://t.co/NtNvcifHBy
— RDS in English (@RDSinEnglish) April 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/ProdigyRep/status/855486410370973696
Novak Djokovic keeps breaking my heart since late last year. #MonteCarlo
— Oladokun Oluseyi (@oladseyOOE) April 21, 2017