In a dramatic turn of events at the 2025 Madrid Open, Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, suffered a shocking second-round defeat to Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi on Saturday, April 26, falling 6-3, 6-4 in straight sets. The loss, one of the most surprising of Djokovic’s illustrious career, was compounded by his post-match comments, which hinted at a possible farewell to the tournament he has won three times. “It could be. I’m not sure if I will come back,” Djokovic said, his voice tinged with uncertainty. “I mean, I’ll come back, maybe not as a player, of course. I hope it’s not, but it could be.” These words sent ripples through the tennis world, sparking speculation about the future of one of the sport’s greatest icons.
The match, played on the clay courts of the Caja Mágica, began with an unusual spectacle: a two-legged robot delivering balls to the court, briefly delaying the players’ entrance. Once underway, Arnaldi, ranked No. 44, seized control with fearless aggression, breaking Djokovic’s serve early to lead 2-0 in the first set. The 24-year-old Italian, who admitted to battling nerves against his childhood idol, played with remarkable poise, firing 21 winners and committing just 18 unforced errors. “At the start I was just trying to not s*** in my pants, to be honest,” Arnaldi confessed, capturing the surreal challenge of facing Djokovic. His relentless baseline game and athleticism overwhelmed the Serbian, who struggled with 32 unforced errors and a lack of rhythm, ceding the first set 6-3 in just over 30 minutes.
The second set saw Djokovic, the fourth seed, fight to regain his footing. He generated three break points to level the score, but Arnaldi’s resilience shone through, particularly in a pivotal 4-3 game where he saved his serve. The Italian clinched the match on his second match point, celebrating with a camera-lens message of “OMG” as the crowd roared. “He’s my idol, he’s always been,” Arnaldi said, reflecting on the emotional weight of defeating the player he once watched secretly on his phone during school. For Djokovic, the defeat marked his third consecutive loss of the 2025 season, following early exits in Miami and Monte Carlo, and left him still chasing his 100th career title.
Djokovic’s candid post-match remarks revealed a player grappling with a new reality. “My level of tennis is not where I would like it to be,” he admitted, acknowledging the unfamiliar struggle of stringing together wins. He described his modest goal for Madrid as simply playing “one more match than I did in Monte Carlo,” a stark contrast to the dominance that defined his 20-plus-year career. Posts on X captured the sentiment, with fans noting the “insane” state of men’s tennis and marveling at Arnaldi’s “athleticism and court coverage.” Others expressed concern for Djokovic, interpreting his comments as a sign that the 37-year-old may be nearing retirement.
The loss highlighted broader challenges for Djokovic in 2025. Despite winning three majors in 2023 and reaching the Paris Olympics final in 2024 for his 99th title, he has yet to claim a trophy this year. The high-altitude clay of Madrid, which favors aggressive play, exposed his discomfort, as did the rise of younger talents like Arnaldi, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz. Arnaldi, who advanced to face Damir Dzumhur in the third round, credited his victory to years of idolizing Djokovic, whose relentless style inspired his own game.
Djokovic’s potential farewell to Madrid carries symbolic weight. The tournament, where he triumphed in 2011, 2016, and 2019, has been a stage for his clay-court prowess, though never his favorite surface. His comments about returning “maybe not as a player” fueled discussions about whether he might transition to a non-playing role, such as coaching or commentary, in the future. Yet, moments of brilliance—like chasing down a seemingly impossible ball to win a point and rallying the crowd—reminded fans of his enduring competitive fire.
As Djokovic looks to the Italian Open and French Open, questions linger about his physical and mental stamina. Arnaldi’s breakthrough, meanwhile, underscores the depth of men’s tennis, with Italy’s new generation making waves. For now, the tennis world holds its breath, wondering if Madrid has indeed seen the last of Djokovic as a player. His legacy, however, remains untouchable, even as the sport he transformed marches forward.