Novak Djokovic makes huge confession after shocking second-round loss to Arnaldi at Madrid Open

Novak Djokovic’s struggles to find his best form continued with another early exit, this time at the Madrid Open. The Serbian star, who has experienced a string of uncharacteristic losses in recent tournaments, fell to Matteo Arnaldi 6-3, 6-4 in a match that showcased the 37-year-old’s ongoing challenges.

Djokovic, who entered the tournament with a first-round bye as a seeded player, failed to shake off the inconsistencies that plagued him in Monte Carlo, where he lost in the second round to Alejandro Tabilo. Against Arnaldi, Djokovic dropped serve early and was unable to recover his rhythm, ultimately succumbing to the Italian in straight sets.

After the match, Djokovic opened up about his current form, offering a rare glimpse into the challenges he’s been facing. “[For] 20 years, I didn’t experience what I’m experiencing in the last 12 months,” Djokovic admitted. “Early exits and way too many. But it is part of the sport, and you have to accept the circumstances and try to make the best out of the circumstances in your favour for whatever is coming up”.

He continued with a mix of reflection and determination: “Look, I cannot sit here and complain about my career or anything. I’m not doing that. But it’s a different feeling that I just have to embrace, accept and deal with in a special way”.

Matteo Arnaldi of Italy greets Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the net after his victory in the Men’s Singles Second Round match during the Madrid Open. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

In a surprising revelation, Djokovic suggested that this year’s Madrid Open might be his final appearance at the tournament. “It could be. It could be. I’m not sure if I will come back,” he said when asked whether this would be his last game in Madrid. “So, I don’t know, I don’t know what to say. I mean, I’ll come back, maybe not as a player, of course. I hope it’s not, but it could be”.

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A new reality for Djokovic

Djokovic admitted he entered Madrid with modest expectations, hoping to play more matches than he did in Monte Carlo. “I was hoping I could play one more match than I played in Monte Carlo. Kind of a new reality for me, I have to say,” he shared.

Reflecting on the mental adjustment required during this stage of his career, Djokovic described it as a significant shift from the confidence and dominance he exhibited throughout the majority of his career.

“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,” he explained.

“It’s kind of a challenge for me mentally to really face these sensations on the court, going out early now regularly in the tournaments. But that’s, I guess, the circle of life and the career, eventually it was going to happen. Now I’m trying to use this as a driving force for the future,” Djokovic added.

Uncertainty surrounding Roland Garros

Despite the tough losses, Djokovic reiterated his focus on Grand Slam tournaments, though he admitted uncertainty about his level heading into Roland Garros.

“Obviously grand slams, I was saying many times, are the most important tournaments for me. Which doesn’t mean that I don’t want to win here, of course I wanted to, but grand slams are where I really want to play the best tennis,” he said. “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do that in Roland Garros, but I’ll do my best”.