Djokovic faces ‘new reality’ after Madrid exit

Novak Djokovic, who lost his opening match for the second tournament in a row, says he is ready for a “new reality.”

Italian Matteo Arnaldi defeated the Serb, who was aiming for a fourth Madrid Open title, 6-3, 6-4.

Djokovic made his Madrid debut in 2006 and won the tournament in 2011, 2016 and 2019.

He said he is not yet certain whether he will play in Madrid again after Saturday’s defeat to a player who was ranked 44 in the world.

When questioned about whether it was his final game there, he responded, “I’m not sure if I will come back.” I’m not sure, then.

I’ll return, though perhaps not as a player, after all. Although I’m not sure if it’s true, it could.

Djokovic added that he lost to a better player because his “level of tennis is not where I would like it to be” and that “I am not where I would like it to be.”

“I’ve had a few of these this year, which I regret, ended in the first round.”

The 24-time Grand Slam champion, who is aiming for his 100th career title, suffered third straight defeats.

After losing in the Miami Masters final in March, he also lost in his opening match in Monte Carlo this month.

He said, “It’s a] kind of new reality for me,” I must admit.

“You know, trying to win a few games but not really considering how far the tournament will go.

It’s a completely different feeling from what I experienced in my 20 plus years of professional tennis, so it’s mentally challenging for me to actually experience these feelings, especially since I’ve been playing in tournaments quite a bit.

Arnaldi, 24, who was facing the Serbian fourth seed for the first time, won it in his second career match against a top-five player.

He’s always been my idol, so I was happy to be able to play him, Arnaldi said.

“I already won,” I said, “to play him on a stage like this.”

I came on the court to try to play my best tennis and win, which I did, so I have no idea what to say at the moment.

37-year-old Djokovic, a three-time champion, forced 32 unforced errors in a fight that ended up being a total mess of a number of delightful shots.

British trio Jack Draper, Jacob Fearnley, and Cameron Norrie all advance to the next round with Arnaldi.

Norrie, the third British number three in the country, started slowly against Czech Jiri Lehecka before winning 2-6, 6-4, 6-0.

Fearnley, the British number two, also lost his first set before defeating Tomas Machac, the other Czech, to advance to the next round.