adminof the locals on the way to a shock 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 reverse to Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.
The world number one, who had a bye in the opening round, was already a break down to the unseeded 21-year-old in the second set when he twisted the same ankle he hurt playing for Serbia in the Davis Cup last month.
After a lengthy medical timeout, he broke back and saved a match point on the way to taking the tiebreak 10-8 to force a deciding set.
He immediately lost his serve for a third time, however, and world number 28 Dimitrov battled through cramp to seal by far the biggest win of his career, ending Djokovic’s bid for a fourth title of 2013.
Djokovic said his preparation for the claycourt event had not been ideal as he had not touched a racket for 12 days following his victory against Rafa Nadal in the final of last month’s Monte Carlo Masters. — SuperTennis.
Online Reporter