Djokovic Reflects on His Loss to Berrettini: “I Was Beaten by a Better Player Today”

Djokovic Reflects on His Loss to Berrettini: “I Was Beaten by a Better Player Today”

Novak Djokovic suffered his first opening-round defeat since April 2022, as he was beaten in straight sets by Matteo Berrettini at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Tuesday.

This was Djokovic’s first match since he withdrew from the Australian Open semifinals against Alexander Zverev due to a hamstring injury in January. However, the former World No. 1 refused to make excuses for his loss and instead acknowledged that his opponent simply played better on the day.

Djokovic: “No Excuses, Berrettini Deserved the Win”

“I wasn’t feeling any pain or discomfort. Today, I was simply beaten by a better player.” – Djokovic said in his post-match press conference.

Despite holding a 4-1 lead in his previous Lexus ATP Head2Head encounters with Berrettini, this time the Italian displayed a level of dominance that Djokovic couldn’t counter.

“Yes, I wasn’t at my desired level, and maybe I wasn’t moving the way I wanted to, but I played without pain, so there’s no excuse.”

Djokovic also praised his opponent’s strong tactical play and powerful serving, which left little room for him to stage a comeback.

“Berrettini played a high-level match today, tactically sound, and served incredibly well. He completely deserved the win.”

Berrettini Ends His Top 10 Victory Drought

With this victory, Matteo Berrettini secured his first win against a Top 10 player since 2023, marking an important milestone in his career.

For Djokovic, who has won the Doha title twice, this loss adds to a challenging stretch. While he clinched an Olympic gold medal in Paris last season, he surprisingly failed to win a single major title throughout the year—a first for him since 2017 despite having 99 career titles to his name.

Djokovic: “I Am Still Trying to Improve My Game”

Despite the setback, Djokovic remains focused on pushing forward and continuing to compete at the highest level.

“I am working on improving my game, just like everyone else. But at this stage in my career, I can’t make sudden, drastic changes. I am not suddenly going to become a serve-and-volley player—maybe occasionally, but my core game will stay the same.”

At 37 years old, Djokovic also acknowledged that physical challenges are becoming more significant compared to earlier in his career.

“There are more injuries now. Things are not the same as they were 10 or 15 years ago. I still try to take care of my body every day, but it’s definitely harder now. I am doing my best given the circumstances.”

He also confirmed that he will continue his partnership with Andy Murray at least through the end of the clay-court season, suggesting that he is still exploring ways to adapt and extend his elite-level career.

What’s Next for Djokovic?

While his Doha campaign ended prematurely, Novak Djokovic has no intentions of slowing down. As a 24-time Grand Slam champion, he has faced setbacks before and has always found a way to bounce back.

The question now is: Was this loss a sign of an inevitable decline, or just a temporary setback before Djokovic regains his dominant form?

The next few months will be crucial in determining whether Djokovic can still compete at the highest level or if the younger generation of players is finally starting to catch up with the Serbian legend.

For now, his journey continues, and as history has shown, writing off Novak Djokovic too soon has always been a mistake.

Is This the Beginning of Djokovic’s Decline or Just a Temporary Setback?

For years, Novak Djokovic has defied expectations, proving time and again that he can bounce back from setbacks and extend his dominance well beyond what many thought was possible. However, with his recent struggles, including this early exit in Doha and a trophy-less 2024 season, questions are beginning to arise: Is this finally the moment where we see a decline in Djokovic’s reign, or is he simply going through a rough patch before returning stronger?

Physical Challenges Are Mounting

At 37 years old, Djokovic is no longer the invincible force he once was. While he still possesses one of the most efficient and disciplined training regimens in tennis, age inevitably takes a toll.

In previous years, even when he suffered injuries, he managed to recover quickly and return stronger. However, as he admitted in his post-match comments, things are different now:

“I still try to take care of my body every day, but it’s much harder now than it was 10-15 years ago.”

This statement alone signals a potential shift—Djokovic is facing challenges that he can no longer fully control. He has always relied on his elite movement and endurance to outlast younger opponents, but if his body is no longer responding the way it used to, his playing style may need adjustments.

Can Djokovic Reinvent His Game?

Great players throughout history have found ways to evolve their playing styles to extend their careers.

• Roger Federer transitioned from a baseline-heavy approach to a more aggressive, net-oriented game, allowing him to conserve energy and shorten points.
• Rafael Nadal, despite his injury history, adjusted his playstyle to focus on shorter rallies and a more strategic use of his serve.
• Andy Murray, even after multiple hip surgeries, has reinvented himself to remain competitive in an era dominated by younger, faster players.

The question is: Can Djokovic do the same?

So far, he seems reluctant to make dramatic changes:

“I will not suddenly become a serve-and-volley player. My game will remain the same, with small adjustments depending on the surface.”

However, stubbornly sticking to the same approach may not be the best move. If Djokovic wants to maintain his place at the top, he may need to embrace a more aggressive, energy-efficient style—perhaps taking inspiration from Federer’s late-career transformation.