Untouchable Tabilo outclasses a disappointing Djokovic in Rome!
What a feat! A veritable tsunami has just hit the Eternal City. Alejandro Tabilo put in an immense performance to eliminate a curiously absent Novak Djokovic (6-2, 6-3 in 1h06).
Faced with the world's No. 1 player plugged into a very alternating current, the Chilean played the perfect match (22 winners, 4 unforced errors, 4 aces, 0 break points conceded). Riding on the confidence he had built up in Aix-en-Provence (where he won the title last week), the left-hander joins Khachanov in the last 16.
Djokovic, for his part, played a match of rare poverty, given his status (14 winners, 12 unforced errors, 5 double faults, 4 breaks conceded). The Serb seemed to be at a loss for solutions, and is not at all reassured as Roland Garros approaches.
The Paris Grand Slam is shaping up to be more indecisive than ever. With Nadal still breaking in, Djokovic more inconsistent than ever, Alcaraz and Sinner injured and Ruud losing momentum, it seems hard to pick out a single favourite.