Alejandro Tabilo upsets Novak Djokovic at 2024 Italian Open

Alejandro Tabilo (X)

It was quite the eventful weekend for world number one Novak Djokovic of Belgrade, Serbia at the 2024 Italian Open. First, after a routine 6-3, 6-1 win over Corentin Moutet of France on Friday in the second round of the tournament, Djokovic was struck on the head by a metal water bottle while signing autographs. The bottle reportedly fell out of a spectator’s backpack.

Djokovic went on to continue to play his third round match on Sunday despite experiencing symptoms of dizziness and nauseousness. According to Tumaini Carayol of Foro Italico, Djokovic was also experiencing issues with his coordination and balance.

In Sunday’s round of 32 match, Djokovic was unable to put a complete game together, and as a result, lost 6-2, 6-3 to Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo. It was Djokovic’s service accuracy which was his biggest problem. Djokovic had five double faults compared to zero for Tabilo. After the match it was reported that Djokovic will undergo future medical tests.

There is no doubt that the Canadian-born Tabilo recorded the biggest win of his career on Sunday. The Toronto, Ontario native beat a top-10 player for the first time ever, and it just so happened that Djokovic is ranked number one. Djokovic has had great success at the Italian Open in the past, as he was a six-time champion, with the last title coming in 2022. 

It has been quite the year so far for Tabilo. In January, he won his first ATP event, as he defeated Taro Daniel of Japan 6-2, 7-5 in the final of the Auckland Open. Then in March, Tabilo reached the final of the Chile Open, but lost to Sebastien Biaz of Argentina, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4. Next up for Tabilo, who is ranked 29th in the world, is Russian Karen Khachanov, the 16th seed. Khachanov, reached the semifinals of the 2022 United States Open and 2023 Australian Open.