Djokovic faces 'new reality' following Madrid exit

Madrid

Djokovic faces 'new reality' following Madrid exit

The 37-year-old suffers a third consecutive defeat

Florencia Tan Jun/Mutua Madrid Open Novak Djokovic leaves Madrid with a 12-7 season record. By Jerome Coombe

For the better of two decades, Novak Djokovic has set standards in tennis that few could reach and even fewer could sustain. But after his straight-sets defeat to Matteo Arnaldi in his opening match at the Mutua Madrid Open, the 99-time tour-level titlist acknowledged the fresh chapter he is facing.

It’s one filled with new challenges and unfamiliar struggles. Speaking candidly after his exit on Saturday, which marks his third consecutive defeat after falling in the Miami final and in his Monte-Carlo opener, Djokovic reflected on his shifting expectations.

“I was hoping I can play one more match than I played in Monte-Carlo. [It’s] kind of a new reality for me, I have to say,” Djokovic said after his 6-3, 6-4 loss to Arnaldi. “Trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament… It's a completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years of professional tennis.

“It’s a challenge for me mentally to really face these kinds of sensations on the court, going out early now regularly in tournaments.”

Watch Highlights from Arnaldi's upset over Djokovic:

Djokovic came agonisingly close to claiming his 100th tour-level title in Miami, but was halted by inspired #NextGenATP Czech Jakub Mensik in the championship match. Transitioning onto the clay, the former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings was aiming to build some momentum.

Yet his defeat to Arnaldi in their maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting signals another three-match losing streak this year. Djokovic had not suffered three consecutive defeats since 2018, but has now done so twice in 2025.

“Obviously after you lose a match you don't feel good, but I've had a few of these this year where I lose in the first round, unfortunately,” Djokovic added. “I knew that it was going to be a really tough opening match for me in this tournament. Arnaldi is a really good player, a quality player.

“I didn't have too many matches on clay. I did practice well, but it's completely different when you step out on the match court. I think the positive thing is that I really enjoyed myself more than I [did] in Monte-Carlo, so that's a good thing. But obviously the level of tennis is not where I would like it to be.

“But, that's the circle of life and the career, eventually it was going to happen.”

Djokovic will leave the Spanish capital, where he won three of his record 40 ATP Masters 1000 titles, with a 12-7 record on the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. As the 37-year-old continues to navigate unfamiliar territory in both results and expectations, the pressure he once thrived under now presents a different kind of challenge.

“Pressure is part of the sport and part of what we do on this highest level, so it's never going to go away, it's just a different kind of pressure,” Djokovic added. “But every time I step on the court I feel the nerves, I feel stress, I feel everything that I guess all the other players feel, and excitement as well.

“[Competing] became a bit more challenging for me, to be honest. But of course I'll do my best for the future.”

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