February 18, (THEWILL) – Former world number one, Novak Djokovic, fell to Matteo Berrettini 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 in the second round of the Qatar Open on Tuesday, marking his return to competitive tennis since the Australian Open semi-finals in January.
The third-seeded Serbian, who received a first-round bye, struggled to find his rhythm against the determined Italian player. Berrettini, who has battled injuries over the past 18 months, recorded his first victory over Djokovic in their fifth meeting.
The 28-year-old Italian controlled the match from the outset, winning crucial points in the first-set tiebreak before breaking Djokovic’s serve early in the second set. “Really happy with my performance,” Berrettini said post-match. “Really happy because I enjoyed my time out there, which is the most important thing.”
Earlier in the day, Djokovic confirmed that Andy Murray would continue serving as his coach indefinitely, stating: “I am really glad he did accept.” The announcement came amid discussions about the Serbian champion’s plans for the remainder of the 2025 season.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
