WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS FOR NOVAK DJOKOVIC

Djokovic has become an enigmatic figure since achieving his dream of winning in France last year. His form has faded, at least by the extraordinary standards he had set, and he currently lies 18th if the ranking was based just on 2017 results.

After losing twice in succession to Nick Kyrgios,  at Indian Wells, he flew home to Monaco to have his elbow examined. In a Facebook message that had clearly not been written by professional PR experts, he told his fans: 'Believe me, it is as shocking to me, as it is to you.' It is worth recalling that, as far back as the US Open, Djokovic was requiring on-court treatment for his arm. One view is that his serving technique was always going to take a toll on his elbow. 

What has happened subsequently has been little short of astonishing, especially given that the 12-times Grand Slam champion has not appeared to suffer any serious injuries other than some wrist and arm problems last summer. A second-round exit here at the Australian Open at the hands of Denis Istomin, the world No 117, was just the one in a series of shocking defeats.

Djokovic lost to Sam Querrey in the third round at Wimbledon, to Juan Martin del Potro in the first round of the Olympics, to Roberto Bautista Agut and Marin Cilic in successive Masters Series tournaments in the autumn and to Murray in the final of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London. The latter defeat confirmed that Murray would replace him as the year-end world No 1. Within days of the campaign ending Djokovic revealed that he had parted company with his head coach, Boris Becker.

He announced former grand slam champion Andre Agassi as his new manager but that has not halted his free fall a he was today rolled over with remarkable ease by the 23-year-old world number seven, who when they met in last year's semi-final won just seven games.

It was the first time that Djokovic has dropped a love set at a Grand Slam since 2005 at the US Open. The decider took just twenty minutes.