Novak Djokovic’s preparations for the defence of his French Open title suffered a shock blow as his long-awaited return to competitive action ended in a round two defeat to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Monte Carlo. The world number one looked rusty and was far from his best as he succumbed to a 3-6 7-6 (5) 1-6 defeat in only his fourth match of 2022 and his first since February 24. Ad/> Djokovic’s lack of tennis due to his vaccination status and the Covid-19 regulations that saw him miss the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Miami, were clear for all to see as he struggled to find rhythm and consistency throughout an unpredictable encounter that was hindered by windy conditions.