Novak Djokovic breaks seven year record with loss to Matteo Berrettini in Qatar

Follow us on Google Discover

Novak Djokovic was looking to return to tennis action with a big win in the first round of the Qatar Open.

Serbian world number seven Djokovic is a two-time champion in Doha, having lifted the trophy in 2016 and 2017.

The 37-year-old was hoping to mark his return to the court with a strong first-round win over Italy’s Matteo Berrettini.

Novak Djokovic suffered a hamstring tear at the Australian Open last month, an injury that many thought would see him out of action for ‘months.’

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the 24-time Major champion recovered quicker than expected to participate at the Qatar Open.

It wasn’t the dream return he may have hoped for, however, as Djokovic lost in straight sets to the world number 35.

In doing so, Djokovic broke a seven-year record that had seen him dominate the ATP Tour over recent years.

Novak Djokovic loses in the opening-round of an ATP tournament for the first time in seven years

Djokovic lost to a dominant Berrettini, 6-7, 2-6, as he suffered defeat in the opening round of an ATP tournament for the first time since 2018.

The Italian star was at his brilliant best against a returning Djokovic, serving at the highest level throughout.

Speaking after the match, Berrettini was delighted to secure a first-career victory over Djokovic.

“Yeah, I know it’s something I’ve been looking to do since a long time, obviously I played against him in the most important tournaments on tour,” he said.

“I had the honor and pleasure of playing against him, I wish I could’ve won one of those matches as well, but I worked really hard and to be back here, to be back at this level.

“I knew my level was high I just needed matches and matches like this.

“All the hard work that I’ve been putting in over the past months, the past days, they worked really well today so I’m really happy with my performance, I’m really happy.”

Having reached a career-high of sixth in the world in 2022, Berrettini soon began to struggle with injury, falling out of the world’s top 100 last year.

Berrettini won Comeback Player of the Year in 2024, as he picked up three tour-level titles on his charge towards the top 30.

Looking to pick up a first top-ten win since 2023, Berrettini knew he had to remain focused till the very last point.

“You never know, especially with a champion like Novak, he’s always ready to comeback,” he said.

“You could see the first match point what happened, tennis is like that.

“I had to stay focused, to keep playing the way I was playing, aggressive, and that’s what I was telling myself, you don’t have to think about match point, you think about the next point and that’s what I did.”

Djokovic saved the first match point with a sublime drop shot that had the Doha crowd on their feet before Berrettini converted the second as the Serb hit a forehand long.

Berrettini’s win over Djokovic was his first in five attempts, having suffered several defeats against the Serb over recent years.

• 2025 Qatar Open 1R – Matteo Berrettini beat Novak Djokovic
• 2021 US Open QF – Novak Djokovic beat Matteo Berrettini
• 2021 Wimbledon F – Novak Djokovic beat Matteo Berrettini
• 2021 French Open QF – Novak Djokovic beat Matteo Berrettini
• 2019 ATP Finals RR – Novak Djokovic beat Matteo Berrettini

The Italian’s most heart-breaking defeat came in the Wimbledon final four years ago, as he lost to Djokovic having taken a one-set lead.

When did Novak Djokovic last lose his opening-round match at an ATP tournament?

Djokovic entered the 2018 Miami Open as the ninth seed, having just lost his opening-round match at Indian Wells.

Low on confidence, Djokovic took on the entertaining Frenchman Benoit Paire, who he had beaten in their only previous meeting three years earlier.

A sub-par Djokovic was second-best throughout as Paire secured his only career victory over Djokovic in Florida, 6-3, 6-4.

Djokovic’s run of poor performances at the Masters 1000 level continued in 2018, as he lost in the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters and the second round of the Madrid Open.

He soon bounced back, winning Wimbledon, the US Open, Cincinnati and Shanghai to finish the year ranked number one in the world.

Djokovic would no doubt love to repeat that resurgence in 2025, as he now sets his sights on Indian Wells next month.