Novak Djokovic acknowledges poor start to season, Vows to bounce back

The Monte Carlo Masters witnessed a major upset as Casper Ruud defeated Novak Djokovic in a thrilling three-set semifinal. The 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 victory marked a significant moment for Ruud in terms of his career. Before this match, Ruud had never beaten Djokovic in their five previous encounters. However, Ruud defied the odds, capitalizing on his superior clay court form.

The opening set was a tight battle, but Ruud managed to break Djokovic's serve twice, taking the lead 6-4. The second set saw a resurgence from Djokovic. The experienced Serb displayed his trademark defensive prowess, breaking Ruud's serve once and levelling the match at 1-1. The momentum could have swung decisively in Djokovic's favour, but Ruud remained composed. He dug deep, using his powerful groundstrokes to great effect and breaking Djokovic once more in the final set. This crucial break proved decisive, as Ruud served out the match for a famous victory.

This win has several implications. For Ruud, it's a career-defining moment. The victory on his preferred clay surface is a huge confidence booster as he heads into the French Open, a tournament where he finished runner-up to Djokovic last year. For Djokovic, the loss extends his winless run in 2024. It raises questions about his form and fitness, especially considering his recent ankle injury. However, Djokovic remains the world No. 1 and has a proven track record of bouncing back from setbacks. The clay court season is still young, and he will have opportunities to turn things around before the French Open.

I can build from here: Novak Djokovic

Djokovic acknowledged the defeat as a sign of his struggles this season, admitting "not having a great season at all." "I'm used to high standards in terms of expectations of the results, so not having a title is, maybe comparing to the last 15 years, not a great season at all,” he said.

While disappointed, he refused to panic. He praised Ruud's performance and pointed out his struggles, possibly hinting at the lingering effects of his ankle injury. Despite the setback, Djokovic vowed to keep working on his game, confident he could still find success on clay despite the slow start. “Hopefully, yeah, I can pick up, in terms of results, I can build from here, because, you know, I played some good tennis. Hopefully, in the next tournaments, I'll be able to play even better,” the 36-year-old added.