WATCH: Djokovic met with chorus of boos after retiring from match

Down goes Nole.

Novak Djokovic lost for the first time in 2016 on Thursday, though he wasn’t defeated in the traditional sense. The world No. 1 retired after dropping the first set, 6-3, to Feliciano Lopez in the Dubai quarterfinals.

The 11-time Grand Slam champion was hampered by infections in both eyes.

As he walked off the court, the Serb was met with a chorus of boos from the crowd. He made some gestures at the fans, but it is unclear what he was trying to communicate.

A four-time champion in Dubai, Djokovic’s streak of reaching 17 consecutive finals—13 of which he won—will be snapped.

After the match, Djokovic—wearing sunglasses—told reporters that he feels fine both mentally and physically, and expressed optimism about returning to the court shortly.

“I just hope this problem with the eye will fade away in the next couple of days,'' Djokovic said. “I got a lot of important events waiting for me in the next period. Of course, Davis Cup back home and Indian Wells, Miami. And of course [the] clay-court season.''

Djokovic has stayed remarkably healthy over the past several years. Prior to Thursday, his last retirement came in a Davis Cup semifinal match against Juan Martin del Potro back in 2011.

The unfortunate incident comes just one day after the 28-year-old became the 12th man in the Open era to win 700 career matches.

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