Novak Djokovic Acknowledges 'New Reality' After Early Exit at 2025 Mutua Madrid Open

Novak Djokovic exits the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open after a straight-sets loss to Matteo Arnaldi, facing a third consecutive defeat and reflecting on the new challenges in his illustrious career.

Novak Djokovic Acknowledges 'New Reality' After Early Exit at 2025 Mutua Madrid Open

For nearly two decades, Novak Djokovic set standards in tennis that few could match. However, following his straight-sets loss to Matteo Arnaldi in his opening match at the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open, the 99-time tour-level champion admitted he is facing a new and unfamiliar chapter in his career.

Speaking candidly after the defeat, Djokovic reflected on his shifting expectations and current challenges.

“I was hoping I could 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.”

Djokovic came close to winning his 100th tour-level title earlier this season in Miami but fell to Czech rising star Jakub Mensik in the final. Transitioning onto clay, the former world No. 1 hoped to build momentum. Yet his loss to Arnaldi, in their first-ever Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting, extended his current losing streak to three matches—matching a pattern he last experienced in 2018, and now 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 said. “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 practised 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.”