Djokovic's stunning fall, Tabilo can't believe it: "I'm trying to wake up right now".

© AFP

Elio Valotto

le 13/05/2024 à 09h33

1 min to read

Djokovic Rome Tabilo

The sensation of the tournament: Alejandro Tabilo dominated Novak Djokovic in Rome (6-2, 6-3). Faced with a strangely absent world number 1, the Chilean delivered a veritable recital to win in just over an hour.

When asked about this magnificent success after the match, Tabilo hardly dared to believe it: "It's incredible. I came onto the court looking all around. I just tried to soak it all in, digest it all. I'm trying to wake up right now."

Questioned in the press conference, the 32nd-ranked player in the world went into a little more detail about this fine victory. He explained that the most decisive factor in his success was that he never completely believed it: "Honestly, at no point did I say to myself: 'Ok, I can win'. After the first set, I was very happy. I was playing incredible tennis. I just wanted to maintain that level. With Novak, it's always physically very difficult. I knew perfectly well that there could be a third set at any moment. I don't know what happened. I think I gradually started to believe it when I was at 6-2, 4-3, trying to close out the match. Throughout the match, I tried to take things one point at a time, without thinking about the score. Each point was like the start of the match. I think that helped me a lot."