DOHA: Novak Djokovic acknowledged Matteo Berrettini’s dominance after suffering a first-round exit at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, describing the Italian’s performance as a “masterclass match” and a well-deserved victory.
“I was outplayed by a better player today,” Djokovic said in a post-match press conference. “He played a masterclass match, tactically, and served very well. It was a deserved win from his side.”
Berrettini, a former world No. 6, delivered a stunning 7-6(4), 6-2 victory over the two-time Doha champion, marking his first career win against Djokovic and his first triumph over a top-10 opponent since January 2023.
“It’s something I’ve been striving for,” Berrettini said in a courtside interview. “I’ve had the honor and pleasure of playing against him in some of the biggest tournaments. I wish I had won one of those as well.”
Despite struggling to find his top form, Djokovic insisted he felt no physical discomfort following his recent hamstring injury, which forced him to withdraw from the Australian Open semifinals.
“I wasn’t at my desired level, and maybe I’m still not moving the way I want to, but I played without pain, so there’s no excuse,” he added.
When asked about potential changes to his game, Djokovic dismissed the idea of drastic adjustments.
“I’m always looking to improve, but my core game won’t change. I’m not suddenly going to start playing serve-and-volley. I’ll make adjustments based on the surface, but the foundation remains the same,” he explained.
Addressing concerns about his fitness, the 24-time Grand Slam champion admitted that managing injuries has become more challenging as he ages.
“There are definitely more injuries now than 10 or 15 years ago,” he said. “I still take care of my body daily, but it’s more challenging, no doubt.”
Looking ahead, Djokovic plans to continue competing in the doubles tournament in Doha alongside Fernando Verdasco before evaluating his schedule for Indian Wells and Miami.
“I’ll stay in Doha for at least one more match in doubles, and then we’ll see,” he concluded.
