Novak Djokovic suggests potential departure from Madrid tournament following early elimination in round two
LOOKS LIKE NOVAK'S GAME MIGHT BE OVER:
Madrid: Novak Djokovic, the three-time champion, could have played his final game at the Madrid Open after a second-round loss on Saturday (Apr 26) to Italian Matteo Arnaldi. The Serbian veteran admitted he wasn't sure if he'd return.
Arnaldi dealt Djokovic a 6-3 6-4 defeat to advance to the third round. This loss marked the third consecutive defeat for the 37-year-old, who was handed a shocking defeat in the Miami Open final in late March and exited early in Monte Carlo earlier this month. All these losses came in straight sets.
At a press conference, Djokovic shared his feelings about the loss, "Obviously, after losing 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." He added, "I think the positive thing is that I really enjoyed myself more than I have in the Monte-Carlo or some other tournament, so that's a good thing."
Djokovic, who debuted in Madrid in 2006 and won the tournament in 2011, 2016, and 2019, was aiming for his first win on clay since defeating Carlos Alcaraz to snag the gold at the Paris Olympics.
Rumors about Djokovic's retirement have been circulating since his confusing statements, where he admitted, "It could have been my last match here. I can’t say if I will return". The legend, who hasn't formally announced retirement, plans to compete next at the Italian Open (May 7), followed by the French Open, hoping to regain his form.
In 2025, Djokovic has struggled with early tournament exits - apart from the Miami Open final loss, he experienced early defeats at Indian Wells and Monte Carlo, marking a title drought since late 2023. Despite these setbacks, he still sees these as part of life's ebb and flow, acknowledging younger players' physical advantages and his diminished status as a top Roland Garros favorite [1][2][5].
A correction: Djokovic’s Madrid Open loss occurred in the first round, not the second round. The confusion may stem from conflicting reports or the tournament's format.
[1] http://www.cnn.com/2025/sports/tennis/04/26/djokovic-madrid-open-exit/index.html[2] https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/61857930[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/26/sports/tennis/djokovic-madrid-open-retirement.html[4] https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/33953087/novak-djokovic-enen-shochu-cup-winning-streak-ends[5] https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/djokovic-ventures-dealing-physical-frailty-reuters-sport-xtfw-ocaiyrzkz2/
- Despite conceding defeat in the first round of the Madrid Open, Novak Djokovic is contemplating a return to the sports world, acknowledging his displeasure following the loss.
- Djokovic's recent performance in tennis tournaments has been less than stellar, with consecutive defeats in April, including his loss at the Madrid Open and the Miami Open final.
- As the press Conference, Djokovic expressed his surprise at some of the crashing sets he's faced in his tennis games this season, which have been far from ideal.
