Djokovic Stunned in Qatar Open Return as De Minaur Marches On
In a dramatic turn of events at the Qatar Open, tennis fans witnessed a surprising first-round exit for Novak Djokovic, while Australia's Alex de Minaur continued his impressive form with a hard-fought victory.
Djokovic, returning to competitive play after a hamstring injury forced him out of the Australian Open, faced Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in what turned out to be a challenging comeback match. Despite stating he felt no pain, Djokovic struggled to find his best rhythm against a sharp and aggressive Berrettini, who delivered a masterclass performance to defeat the 24-time Grand Slam champion 7-6(7/4), 6-2. The Serbian legend admitted he was simply outplayed, emphasizing that his movement may not have been at its peak yet, but he refused to make excuses, crediting his opponent for a well-earned victory.
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On the other hand, Australia’s Alex de Minaur gave himself a belated birthday gift by securing a straight-sets victory over Russian Roman Safiullin. Just a day after turning 26, De Minaur showed resilience in tough, blustery conditions, overcoming Safiullin 6-1, 7-5. While the first set went smoothly, the second set proved trickier as Safiullin fought back to level at 5-5. However, De Minaur remained composed, breaking back immediately and sealing his spot in the last 16, where he will face Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.
De Minaur has been in outstanding form, leading the ATP tour in match wins for 2025 and showing strong consistency in ATP 500 events. After finishing as a finalist in Rotterdam just days ago, he opted to chase ranking points in Qatar and Dubai rather than defend his Acapulco title. His determination is paying off, as he continues to prove himself as a force to be reckoned with on the tour.
Meanwhile, fellow Australian Christopher O'Connell also advanced to the second round, where he will take on eighth seed Jack Draper.
With Djokovic out early, the Qatar Open remains wide open, setting the stage for intense battles ahead. Fans will be watching closely to see if De Minaur can capitalize on this opportunity and go deep in the tournament.
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