Novak Djokovic rued a "horrible" performance as he crashed out of the Monte Carlo Masters in his opening match on Wednesday, while Carlos Alcaraz staged a fightback.

The world number five was far from his best, losing 6-3, 6-4 to Tabilo in a sluggish display that marked a disappointing start to his clay-court season.

Novak was ahead 5-4, when he decided to end training being visibly exhausted. The former world number 1 did not want to waste too much energy in view of his debut in Monte Carlo, where he will face a specialist of this surface like Alejandro Tabilo. The Chilean player is very dangerous on these courts and already beat Nole in Rome last year.