Berrettini Stuns Djokovic to End Comeback at Qatar Open
Italian Secures First Win Over Serbian Star in Straight Sets
Novak Djokovic’s much-anticipated comeback at the Qatar Open was cut short as he suffered a straight-sets defeat (7-6(7/4), 6-2) to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the second round on Tuesday.
Djokovic, playing his first match since withdrawing from his Australian Open semifinal due to injury, was seeded third in the tournament and had received a first-round bye. However, he struggled to find his rhythm against Berrettini, who secured his first-ever win over the Serbian legend.
"This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time," Berrettini said after the match. "I've played against him in some of the biggest tournaments, and I wish I could have won one of those, but I’m really happy with my performance today."
The victory marks a significant milestone for Berrettini, who has been battling injuries for the past 18 months. Despite those struggles, the 28-year-old Italian managed to claim three ATP titles last year, showing signs of resurgence.
Match Breakdown: Berrettini Takes Control
The first set saw both players holding serve before heading into a tiebreak, where Berrettini capitalized on two key points off Djokovic’s serve to clinch it 7-4.
Berrettini then seized full control in the second set, breaking Djokovic to love in the second game and maintaining his dominance on serve throughout. Despite Djokovic’s reputation for comebacks—having broken Berrettini 27 times in their previous encounters—the Italian remained composed and sealed the win on his second match point.
"A champion like Novak is always ready to fight back," Berrettini admitted. "I just focused on playing one point at a time."
Djokovic Continues Coaching Partnership with Andy Murray
Before his match, Djokovic made headlines by confirming that Andy Murray would remain his coach indefinitely.
"I expressed my desire to continue the collaboration with him, so I am really glad he accepted," Djokovic said.
Elsewhere at the Qatar Open: Medvedev, De Minaur, and Rublev Progress
- Alex de Minaur, celebrating his birthday, overcame Russia’s Roman Safiullin 6-1, 7-5 in challenging conditions. "It’s cold, it’s windy—you don’t want to get out of bed. But once you’re on the court, you do everything to win," he said.
- Daniil Medvedev, the former world No. 1, fought past defending champion Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. The 2023 Qatar Open winner secured his first top-30 victory of 2025, despite not winning a title since the Rome Masters in 2023.
- Andrey Rublev, another former champion, eased past Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-4 to book his place in the next round.
The Qatar Open continues with high-profile clashes ahead as players look to build momentum early in the 2025 season.
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