Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, was visibly shaken after a 6-3, 6-4 second-round loss to world No. 44 Matteo Arnaldi at the Mutua Madrid Open on April 26, 2025. The defeat marked his third consecutive loss and fourth opening-match exit in five tournaments this season, prompting an emotional press conference where he described grappling with a “new reality” in his storied career.
“It’s kind of a new reality for me, trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament,” Djokovic said. “It’s a completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years of professional tennis, so it’s a challenge for me mentally to face these sensations, going out early now regularly.”
The 37-year-old, who won Madrid in 2011, 2016, and 2019, struggled with 32 unforced errors, including 17 backhand errors, and was broken three times by Arnaldi, a 24-year-old Italian who idolized him growing up. Arnaldi’s tactical use of drop shots and powerful forehands exploited Djokovic’s sluggish movement, with the Serb even stumbling during a rally. Djokovic admitted, “I lost to a better player. My level of tennis is not where I would like it to be.”
This loss follows a final defeat to Jakub Mensik in Miami and an opening-round exit to Alejandro Tabilo in Monte Carlo, where an eye infection hampered him. With a 12-7 season record and no titles in 2025, Djokovic, coached by Andy Murray, is still chasing his 100th tour-level title, a milestone reached only by Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103).
Djokovic’s emotional remarks hinted at uncertainty about his Madrid future. “It could be my last match here,” he said. “I’m not sure if I’ll come back, maybe not as a player. I hope it’s not, but it could be.” Despite this, he emphasized Grand Slams as his priority, particularly Roland Garros starting May 25, though he downplayed his chances: “I’m not going into Roland Garros as one of the main favorites. Maybe that can help, we’ll see.”
Skeptics, including Stefanos Tsitsipas and Arnaldi, believe Djokovic remains a threat in best-of-five-set formats. However, his recent struggles—compounded by age, injuries, and a shifting ATP landscape—raise questions about his dominance. Djokovic reflected, “That’s the circle of life and the career. Eventually, it was going to happen. I’ll try to use this as a driving force for the future.” [**What’s Your Perspective?**
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