"Comparing to the last 15 years not a great season at all": Novak Djokovic honest verdict on 2024 so far after shock Ruud result

In Casper Ruud's biggest ever career win both by ranking and stature, Novak Djokovic once again left a tournament with more questions than answers. Reaching the semi-finals at the Monte-Carlo Masters, it marks another tournament in which he lost before the final and he was brutally honest about his 2024 so far in his press conference.

Defeated 4-6, 6-1, 4-6 by the Norwegian, Ruud produced the performance of his career to topple the great Serbian who said post match that compared to his last 15 years, it's not been a great season at all. He does take some positives leaving Monaco though out of all of this.

"Well, I mean, I'm used to really high standard in terms of expectations of the results, so not having a title is, maybe comparing to the last 15 years, not a great season at all," he said in his post match press conference.

"But I had semis of Australia, semis here. I only played three tournaments this year, so of course, you know, it's normal to expect that you have some seasons where you don't start well, and this is the one. Hopefully, yeah, I can pick up, in terms of results, I can build from here, because, you know, I played some good tennis. Hopefully in the next tournaments I'll be able to play even better."

"Congratulations to Casper. He played really good, especially in the beginning of the first and third, as well. I had my chances, but yeah, last game was not great. Unforced errors and just he was solid I think until the last shot and deserved to win.

"My game was kind of up and down. I mean, the positive thing is that I kind of managed to come back after losing the first set and really find the strength in the game. So there are positives to take away from this tournament, for sure, but of course disappointed with the loss."