'New Reality': Djokovic Getting Used To Losing After Another Shock Exit
NewsSaturday, 26 April 2025 at 20:16
Novak Djokovic lost his third consecutive match for the third time this year, and he didn't want to sugar-coat things after the loss.
Djokovic might be the most successful tennis player of all time, but in 2025, he has struggled to get even close to some of his past results. Of course, the Serbian played in the Australian Open semi-finals and the Miami Open final, but he has lost in the first round of four of his last five tournaments.
Djokovic's most recent loss came at the 2025 Madrid Open, where he lost in his first match to Matteo Arnaldi. The 37-year-old was nowhere near his peak level, losing 3-6, 4-6. That loss also means that the 24-time Grand Slam winner has now lost the last six sets that he has played on the ATP Tour.
Those are numbers that Djokovic is not used to, and another thing that he is not used to is coming to a tournament, hoping to win at least one match. In the past, he always eyed the trophy, but his approach has changed these days.
After losing in his first match at the Monte-Carlo Masters, Djokovic aimed to get past his first match in Madrid, but failed again, which he admitted is something he might need to get used to.
"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. 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 tried to find some positives after his loss. He admitted that during his practice sessions, he felt better on the tennis court, but, of course, that means nothing, as what counts at the end of the day are results.
"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. 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 practise 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 now move from the Spanish capital to the Italian capital, hoping to end his three-match losing streak at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome.
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