Novak Djokovic is set for a high-stakes rematch as he begins his Monte Carlo Masters campaign against Alejandro Tabilo, the man who handed him one of his most surprising defeats in recent memory.
Tabilo, ranked No. 32 in the world, battled past 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 on Monday to earn a second-round showdown with the 24-time Grand Slam winner. The Chilean stunned Djokovic last year at the Italian Open, dropping just five games in a commanding win — a result the Serbian star will be eager to avenge.
Djokovic received a first-round bye and will be playing his first match since his Miami Open final loss to Jakub Mensik. Despite being one of the sport’s all-time greats, Djokovic has tempered expectations for the clay-court season, acknowledging the unique challenges of the surface.
Medvedev Survives All-Russian Battle
Elsewhere, No. 9 seed Daniil Medvedev overcame a gritty challenge from fellow Russian Karen Khachanov, grinding out a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 victory in just under three hours. Medvedev looked to be cruising with a set and a 4-1 lead in the second, but Khachanov mounted a strong comeback to force a decider.
The final set saw both players struggle on serve, with Medvedev breaking Khachanov four times despite losing his own serve three times. Serving at 4-5, Khachanov faltered, handing Medvedev the win. Medvedev, battling cramps late in the match, limped off the court but will now face France’s Alexandre Muller, who dispatched qualifier Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-4, 6-4.
Upsets and Highlights from Monday
- Ben Shelton, the No. 11 seed, was ousted by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in a comeback win: 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-1. The Spaniard, despite not claiming a title since 2022, has reached two finals this year and looked sharp in the latter stages of the match.
- Matteo Berrettini advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Mariano Navone, booking a second-round match with top seed Alexander Zverev. Berrettini defeated Zverev in their last encounter at Wimbledon 2023.
- No. 13 seed Lorenzo Musetti rallied from a set down to beat China’s Yunchaokete Bu 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. He now faces Jiri Lehecka, who eliminated Sebastian Korda 6-3, 7-6(7).
- Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime was knocked out by qualifier Daniel Altmaier, who notched a 7-6(5), 6-3 win. Fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov also exited, falling to Marcos Giron 6-3, 7-6(5).
The Monte Carlo Masters marks the first major clay-court tournament of the 2025 season and sets the tone for a pivotal stretch leading up to Roland Garros. With top names already clashing and early upsets shaking the draw, this year’s edition promises no shortage of drama.
