Novak Djokovic on Matteo Berrettini defeat: 'I was outplayed by a ...

Djokovic on Berrettini defeat: 'I was outplayed by a better player today'

Serbian lost to Italian in straight sets at ATP 500

February 18, 2025

Novak Djokovic suffered his first opening-round loss since April 2022 on Tuesday when he endured a straight-sets defeat to Matteo Berrettini at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open.

The Serbian was competing for the first time since he retired from his Australian Open semi-final clash against Alexander Zverev in January with a hamstring injury. However, the former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings refrained from making excuses after his defeat to Berrettini at the ATP 500 in Doha.

“I didn't have any pain or discomfort in that sense. I was outplayed by just a better player today,” said Djokovic, who leads Berrettini 4-1 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. “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 mean, I played without pain, so there is no excuse in that.

“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.”

Djokovic, a two-time champion in Doha, won the gold medal in the Paris Olympics last season but was unable to add another title across the season. It was the first time since 2017 the 99 tour-level titlist did not clinch a major crown.

The 37-year-old holds a 7-3 record in 2025. Djokovic, who acknowledged in his post-match press conference that he will work with Andy Murray until at least the end of the clay swing, stated he is working hard to lift more trophies in the future.

“I am trying to improve my game, as everybody else. But my game is not going to change now drastically. I'm not going to play serve and volley, maybe every once in a while, but my game is what it is, the core is going to be the same. I'm going to try to adjust depending on the surface that I play on and so forth.

“There are more injuries. Things are not the same as 10 years ago, 15 years ago. I still try to take care of my body on a daily basis, and it's more challenging now, no doubt. I still try to do my very best, given the circumstances.”

Djokovic is next scheduled to play at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells. The World No. 7 has triumphed five times in California.