Novak Djokovic issued an apology after what he described as a “horrible” performance as he lost to Alejandro Tabilo of Chile in the second round of the Monte-Carlo Masters on Wednesday. The Serbian made a stack of unforced errors – 18 on the forehand – as he was beaten by Tabilo on clay for the

Novak Djokovic issued an apology after what he described as a “horrible” performance as he lost to Alejandro Tabilo of Chile in the second round of the Monte-Carlo Masters on Wednesday.

The Serbian made a stack of unforced errors – 18 on the forehand – as he was beaten by Tabilo on clay for the second time in a year, having lost to him in Rome last May.

“It was actually more like the worst day,” Djokovic said. “Look, I was hoping it was not going to happen, but it was quite a high probability I’m going to play this way.

“I don’t know. Just horrible. Horrible feeling to play this way, and just sorry for all the people that have to witness this.”

“This bad, I didn’t expect”

Djokovic said he didn’t really have an explanation for his performance. “I don’t know. I don’t have it. I have it and I don’t have it. I don’t really care,” he said.

“I expected myself at least to have put a decent performance,” he said. “Not like this. It was horrible. I did not have high expectations, really. I knew I’m gonna have a tough opponent and I knew I’m gonna probably play pretty bad. But this bad, I didn’t expect.”

The former world No 1 is due to play in Madrid next but said Roland-Garros is his only goal on clay.