Djokovic praises Berrettini, downplays any injury issue following Doha loss
The Serb was beaten by Berrettini in his first match since retiring from the Australian Open semi-final due to injury
Novak Djokovic retires with injury at the 2025 Australian Open © Zuma / Psnewz
Novak Djokovic was 100 percent physically — or at least close to it — but simply ran into an inspired Matteo Berrettini in the first round of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Tuesday evening. Djokovic said as much following his 7-6 (4), 6-2 loss.
“I didn’t have any pain or discomfort in that sense,” explained the 37-year-old, referencing a hamstring injury that forced him to retire from his Australian Open semi-final match against Alexander Zverev. “I was outplayed by just a better player today. Yes, 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 master-class match — to be honest — tactically, and served very well, so just a very deserved win from his side.
“He was just the better player. I think he played a master-class match — to be honest — tactically, and served very well, so just a very deserved win from his side.”
It was Berrettini’s first victory over Djokovic in their fifth head-to-head showdown. It was also the Italian’s first win against a top10 opponent since January of 2023 (defeated Casper Ruud and Hubert Hurkacz at the United Cup.
“”[Beating Djokovic] is something that I’ve been looking to do,” the 35th-ranked Berrettini noted. “I played against him in the most important tournaments on tour, had the honour and the pleasure to play against him.”
