Djokovic falls in Monte-Carlo, first win for Alcaraz

Novak Djokovic rued a "horrible" performance as he crashed out of the Monte-Carlo Masters in his opening match on Wednesday, while Carlos Alcaraz staged a fightback for his first win at the tournament.

Fifth-ranked Djokovic struggled to find his rhythm in a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Chilean Alejandro Tabilo in the second round, making an inauspicious start to his clay season.

Djokovic, 37, went into the tournament hampered by an eye infection that has been troubling him since the semi-finals in Miami at the end of March and admitted that he did not have "very high" expectations for Monte-Carlo.

As it transpired a sluggish performance meant that Tabilo, who also beat Djokovic on clay in last year's Italian Open in Rome, faced few difficulties in claiming a rare 2-0 head-to-head record against the 24-time Grand Slam winner.

"Just horrible. Horrible feeling to play this way, and just sorry for all the people that have to witness this," said Djokovic.

The Serb, who is chasing his 100th ATP title, has not won a tournament since taking gold at last year's Paris Olympics. Tabilo, ranked 32 in the world, will face Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the last 16.

Meanwhile, Alcaraz picked up his first ever Monte-Carlo win when he came from a set down to win his second round match against Francisco Cerundolo 3-6, 6-0, 6-1.

After a mixed American tour, with a semi-final in Indian Wells and an early loss to David Goffin in Miami, the 21-year-old Spaniard made a successful return to clay.

His only previous appearance in Monte-Carlo in 2022 ended in a three-set defeat by Sebastian Korda.

Alcaraz, ranked three in the world, made a slow start against the lively Argentinian who outlasted him in extended cross-court rallies.

After gaining an early break, Alcaraz gave up four games in a row which was enough for Cerundolo to go on and take the set.

From then on, however, it was all Alcaraz. He dropped just a single game over the next two sets as he blasted his way to victory in one hour and 38 minutes.

The second seed booked himself a last 16 date against the German Daniel Altmaier, 84th in the world, who saw off the French veteran Richard Gasquet 7-5, 5-7, 6-2.

Gasquet, 38, playing for the last time in Monte-Carlo, was given a warm reception by the crowds who have been watching him since he made his tournament debut as a 15-year-old wild card in 2002.