Roger Federer’s ex-coach can’t write off Novak Djokovic in Grand Slam events despite Monte Carlo Masters exit

Novak Djokovic's bid for his 100th title at the Monte Carlo Masters ended after a straight-set defeat in his first match.

Roger Federer’s ex-coach can’t write off Novak Djokovic in Grand Slam events despite Monte Carlo Masters exit

Novak Djokovic (Image via Univers Tennis)

Roger Federer‘s former coach, Paul Annacone, is not at all concerned about Novak Djokovic after the latter’s defeat to Alejandro Tabilo in his first match of the Monte Carlo Masters. Djokovic was up against the Chilean ace on Wednesday (April 9) and in an hour and 27 minutes, he lost the match with a 6-3, 6-4 scoreline.

Djokovic was playing the tournament in his bid for his 100th title, which he failed to win at the Miami Open last month as Jakub Mensik handed him a straight-set defeat in the final. The 37-year-old called his performance the worst but Annacone said a player like Djokovic will have some defeats at this stage of his career but will make himself ready when it matters the most, that is, during the Grand Slam events.

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I think the hardest thing is when you win as much as these all-time greats win, you tend to only make news when you lose. And Novak now, because he’s not playing that much, he is losing what seems to be an inordinate amount of times. But guess what, the most important thing for players at this stage, in this level, is to periodize, ‘How am I gonna get ready for Roland Garros? How am I gonna get ready for Wimbledon?’

Paul Annacone told Tennis Channel

Andy Roddick was also in the show and he said the first Masters 1000 of the season was “almost paid practice” for Djokovic. Djokovic is a two-time Monte Carlo Masters champion and hasn’t reached the final of the tournament since 2015.

And guess what he’s gonna have some of these losses but because he knows how good he is, he’s not going to panic, his confidence isn’t going to crash, it’s about staying healthy and trying to peak at the right moment.

Paul Annacone added

The 24-time Grand Slam champion reached the semifinal of the Australian Open but an injury forced him to retire mid-match. Djokovic has won eight of the nine Masters at least three times. Only in Monte Carlo, he could win it twice. He lifted the title for the first time in 2013 by denying Rafael Nadal his ninth consecutive title in The Principality.

Novak Djokovic backs Jannik Sinner to win the Italian Open

Following the two Masters 1000 on the red dirt (the Monte Carlo Masters and the Madrid Open), the tennis world will see Jannik Sinner make his comeback at the Italian Open. Sinner is serving his three-month doping ban which will lift on May 4, a few days before his home tournament.

Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

The 23-year-old reached a case resolution with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) after clostebol contamination and has so far played just the Australian Open, where he defended his crown by clinching a straight-set win over Alexander Zverev in the final. Novak Djokovic, who has won the title in Rome six times, said the World No.1 will be the favorite to win the Italian Open this season.

I will take in Rome, Sinner.

Novak Djokovic told Sky Sports

Sinner had skipped the Italian Open last year due to an injury and didn’t win a title on any of the clay court events. The only title he claimed on the red dirt was at the Umag Open in 2022. He reached his first semifinal of the French Open last year.

Djokovic, in last year’s Italian Open, was defeated in the second round by Alejandro Tabilo, who, with another win over Nole in Monte Carlo, has improved his head-to-head record to 2-0. Tabilo will next meet Grigor Dimitrov, which will be their third encounter on the tour. The 27-year-old will aim to beat the Bulgarian for the first time in his career.