Novak Djokovic is not going to chase his fourth Madrid Masters title. The veteran skilled an early loss in Caja Magica, failing to cross the primary hurdle at three of the opening 4 Masters 1000 occasions of the season.
Talking about his return to Madrid, Djokovic admitted this might be his final match within the Spanish capital. The 37-year-old would like to return to Madrid as a participant however couldn’t affirm that following one other powerful defeat, the seventh of the season.
Novak confronted Matteo Arnaldi within the second spherical and suffered a 6-3, 6-4 loss in an hour and 41 minutes. Like within the earlier six losses of 2025, the legend struggled on the return and did not maintain the rival's tempo in his video games.
Indian Wells: 2R
Miami: F 🥈
Monte-Carlo: 2R
Madrid: 2RAside from Miami, It’s been a difficult time for Djokovic on the Masters 1000s to this point this season 😳 pic.twitter.com/IXewG5MfyO
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 26, 2025
Djokovic is 12-7 in 2025, reaching the Australian Open semi-final and the Miami Open ultimate, falling to Jakub Mensik in two tie breaks. The legend would love to assert the elusive one centesimal ATP title, though he has nothing extra to show.
The Serb will attempt to discover his A-game by Roland Garros and chase his twenty fifth Main crown within the French capital. Arnaldi lastly earned an opportunity to compete in opposition to his idol after coaching with him as soon as in Rome three years in the past.
The Italian held his nerves and carried out at a excessive degree in opposition to the best participant of all time. Matteo clinched seven factors greater than Novak, together with the pivotal ones. The youthful participant made the distinction behind the second serve.
Novak Djokovic, Madrid Open 2025© Stream screenshot
He denied 4 of 5 break factors and secured three breaks from as many alternatives to have fun his career-best victory. Arnaldi held the strings in his fingers and hit 21 winners and 18 unforced errors. Djokovic added 21 direct factors and 32 errors, 20 within the opening set.
Novak had an opportunity to lengthen the second set however missed them, experiencing one other early loss and increasing his mediocre run. The Italian hit 5 service winners greater than the Serb, who erased that deficit from the baseline and on the web.
The lower-ranked participant collected 5 factors extra within the shortest exchanges as much as 4 strokes. Novak outplayed his rival within the mid-range ones and stayed in competition. Nonetheless, the youthful competitor had the higher hand in essentially the most prolonged rallies, incomes his win in that section.
Matteo Arnaldi & Novak Djokovic, Madrid Open 2025© Stream screenshot
They traded early breaks, and Matteo saved one other break level at 2-2. The Italian shifted into the next gear at 3-3, rattling off three video games and claiming the opener 6-3 in 48 minutes. Novak served nicely early within the second set and reached deuces on the return.
Nonetheless, he did not make an additional step and generate break factors. As a substitute, Arnaldi secured a break within the seventh recreation and moved nearer to the highest. Djokovic lastly made a push in recreation eight and generated three break factors.
He missed a chance on the second and wasted all three, permitting his rival to carry the sport residence and transfer 5-3 in entrance. The veteran served to remain within the match in recreation 9 and held at love for extra motion.
Novak Djokovic, Madrid Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Nonetheless, Matteo felt no signal of nerves whereas serving for the win at 5-4. The Italian drew the legend's error for 3 match factors and landed a service winner on the second and have fun an emotional victory.
"This might be my ultimate match in Madrid. I'm unsure if I’ll come again. I have no idea what to say. I hope to return to Caja Magica as a participant, however nothing is definite," Novak Djokovic stated.
