By Tony Parsons-
Tennis icon Novak Djokovic(pictured) has disclosed that he was grappling with “big personal problems” during his unexpected loss to Lorenzo Musetti at the 2023 Monte Carlo Masters.
The Serbian legend acknowledged that external challenges weighed heavily on him that day, emphasizing the significance of issues outside the tennis court.
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The surprising defeat occurred in the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo last April, where Djokovic, then the No 1 seed, succumbed to a 6-4, 5-7, 4-6 loss against the 16th-seeded Musetti.
The tennis maestro, who was also contending with an elbow issue, returned to the court after missing the Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami due to US vaccine entry requirements.
During an interview with L’Equipe, Djokovic shed light on the personal struggles he faced during that period. “I didn’t talk about it at the time, but, at that time, I was having big personal problems. It is in these circumstances that I become very frustrated,” he stated.
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In the aftermath of the Monte Carlo defeat, Djokovic had briefly addressed the media, saying, “I cannot say nothing, I’m okay. I’m fine. Congrats to him. We move on. It’s not a great day for me, so I’m not really in the mood to speak.”
The revelation adds context to what appeared to be an unexpected loss for the two-time Monte Carlo Masters champion. Djokovic has not advanced beyond the quarter-finals in the seven appearances since his last triumph in 2015.
He recently overcame an 18-year-old Croatian qualifier in a grueling four-set opening-round match, setting the stage for another potential Grand Slam victory.
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