jokovic, 37, went into the tournament hampered by an eye infection that has been troubling him since the semi-finals in Miami at the end of March and admitting that he did not have "very high" expectations for Monte Carlo.

As it transpired a sluggish performance meant that Tabilo, who also beat Djokovic on clay in last year's Rome Masters, faced few difficulties in claiming a rare 2-0 head-to-head record against the 24-time Grand Slam winner.

The Serb, who is chasing his 100th ATP title, has not won a tournament since taking gold at last year's Paris Olympics.

Tabilo, ranked 32 in the world, will face the winner of the match between Monegasque Valentin Vacherot and the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the last 16.

Carlos Alcaraz, meanwhile, picked up his first ever win at the Monte Carlo Masters when he came from a set down to win his second round match against Francisco Cerundolo 3-6, 6-0, 6-1.

After a mixed American tour, with a semi-final in Indian Wells and an early loss to David Goffin in Miami, the 21-year-old Spaniard made a successful return to clay.