Monte Carlo Masters: Novak Djokovic crashes out

TIL Desk Sports/ World number one Novak Djokovic crashed out of the Monte Carlo Masters, losing a Round of 32 clash to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain here on Tuesday. The 22-year-old Spanish player Davidovich Fokina defeated the Serb 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1 in the second-round match in two hours 54 minutes.

Struggling to impose his strokes in windy conditions, Djokovic, the top seed, sprayed too many mistakes and hit the exit door in only his second ATP tournament of the season while the Spaniard defended seven out of 11 break chances and delivered nine breaks from 20 opportunities to control the scoreboard in sets one and three.

Despite trailing by a break in the third set against wildcard Lucas Catarina of Monaco, the World No. 430, Taylor Fritz rallied for a 6-7(6), 7-6(5), 6-4 victory to reach the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters here on Tuesday. The American will next play former World No. 3 Marin Cilic, who eliminated Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Monday.