Alejandro Tabilo claimed the biggest win of his career when he beat world No. 1 Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-3 at the Italian Open on Sunday in a match that lasted just 67 minutes.
Djokovic has won the Italian Open six times, with his last title coming in 2022, but Tabilo was almost flawless on Centre Court, breaking the top seed four times while not conceding a single break point and winning the match on a Djokovic double fault.
“It’s incredible. I came on court just looking around and soaking it all in, trying to process everything. I’m trying to wake up right now,” said Tabilo, 26.
It was a short but eventful stay at the Italian Open for Djokovic, who was playing his first tournament since losing to Casper Ruud in the Monte Carlo Masters semifinals April 13. After winning his opening match Friday, Djokovic was hit in the head by a water bottle that was dropped by a fan.
Djokovic was cleared after receiving medical attention, and he made light of the situation Saturday, wearing a bicycle helmet to greet fans before his practice session.
Sunday’s loss means Djokovic remains without a title in 2024 — the first time he has reached May without a trophy since 2018, when he was returning from a right elbow injury. He has failed to reach a final in 2024 and has played only six matches on clay in the buildup to the French Open.
The victory made Tabilo, who won a Challenger Tour tournament two weeks ago, the first Chilean player in 17 years to beat a world No. 1 since Fernando Gonzalez beat Roger Federer at the ATP Finals in 2007.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.