Top 5 Biggest Upsets in the Italian Open

The clay season of 2024 has been one of the most interesting segments in the world of tennis where we have seen some great matches and surprising results already. The Italian Open has also been a tournament full of surprises with some iconic tennis games and moments we can never forget. This tournament has already given us a glimpse of some of roller coaster ride which we have been accustomed to right now.

The Italian Open has also had some of the most shocking results that we have never thought were possible at all. these games really gave us the good, the bad and the ugly side of tennis. These matches were some of the most unpredictable circumstances that you can ever imagine at all and that is what makes the game of tennis popular. We will be taking a look at these matches which show what the game can bring to the audience.

So, here are the top 5 upsets in the Italian Open so far:

5. Gael Monfils vs Thiago Monteiro

We know that Gael Monfils is not really in the best of form right now, but being one of the most experienced players in the game we never thought that the former world number 10 would have such a disappointing game. Monfils lost to a lower seeded player in Thiago Monteiro who came into the first round through qualifiers. Monfils was beaten in two straight sets and was not looking like the player we have seen in his earlier years into the game.

4. Rafael Nadal vs Hubert Hurkacz

Even though this is not the same Rafael Nadal who had established himself as the king of clay, beating him in just the second round of the tournament is still a big achievement. This was also the first time Nadal was up against Hubert Hurkacz who was number 7 ranked player in ATP. Hurkacz made easy work of El Nino giving him a complete thrashing in two straight sets. Nadal was once again looking rusty in this game and was outplayed by the Polish throughout. This is now the third consecutive tournament where Nadal could not live up to the standards he has set on the clay surfaces.

3. Casper Ruud vs Miomir Kecmanović

Casper Ruud had started of this season well and even proved to be one of the top contenders this clay season. He had a major impact this season being the finalist in Monte Carlo and winning the Barcelona Open which was his first ATP 500 title. So it was clear that he was the favourite to win in his second round match against Miomir Kecmanovic. Ruud did manage win the first set convincingly, but Kecmanovic had a surprise fore him in the last two sets winning both of them with a score of 6-4. This was surely a shocking performance by the Norwegian who was supposed to be one of the favourites going forward in the competition.

2. Andrey Rublev vs Alexandre Muller

Andrey Rublev no doubt had the tournament of the season in Madrid where he went onto win the title as well. The Russian was easily one of the players who was a clear favourite to win the tournament. However the third round against Alexandre Muller saw some of the most surprising turn of events. Rublev did win the first set convincingly , but lost the final 2 sets where he was completely outplayed by the Frenchman. This was not the tournament  he would have expected after a great performance in Madrid where he came back after 4 consecutive losses. This was one of the shocking upsets in the tournament we had ever witnessed.

1. Novak Djokovic vs Alejandro Tabilo

There was no doubt that this was a tournament where Novak Djokovic was one of the dominant figures in the world. After all he was the world number 1 and highest seeded player in the tournament. To see him lose to a unseeded player in Alejandro Tabilo was reaaly the biggest upset in the game. Djokovic was  completely outplayed by the Chilean, who made the 24 time grand slam champion look like a unseeded rookie on the day. Djokovic had lost in two straight sets and this was possibly the worst performance of his entire career. We hope that Djokovic makes a comeback from this disappointing tournament and set his eyes on another grand slam title.