Djokovic stunned by Berrettini in Qatar Open first round

DOHA – Novak Djokovic admitted he was “outplayed” as his comeback came to a crashing halt on Feb 18, when he lost 7-6 (7-4),6-2 to Matteo Berrettini in the second round of the Qatar Open.

The Serb, who was seeded third and received a first-round bye, was rusty as he was playing his first match since limping out of his Australian Open semi-final in January.

But the 37-year-old said that while he was not at 100 per cent, fitness was not the issue in Doha.

“I was outplayed by just a better player today,” the 24-time Grand Slam champion said.

“I wasn’t at my desired level, and it could be that I’m still not moving the way I want to move, but I played without pain, so there is no excuse in that.

“I think he played a masterclass match to be honest, tactically, and served very well, so just a very deserved win from his side.”

It was only Berrettini’s second win in 2025 and his first over a top-10 player since 2023.

It was also the Italian’s first win over Djokovic. Their previous encounters included victories for the Serb in the Wimbledon final and Roland Garros quarter-finals, both in 2021.

“Something I’ve been looking to do for a long time. I’ve played against him in the most important tournaments on tour,” the 28-year-old said on court after the victory. “I wish I could have won one of those matches.”

He has struggled with injuries over the last 18 months but won three tournaments after returning to court in 2024.

“Really happy with my performance,” Berrettini added. “Really happy because I enjoyed my time out there, which is the most important thing.”

Djokovic, meanwhile, also said that Andy Murray had agreed to continue as his coach “indefinitely” but