By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, April 26, 2025
Photograph credit score: Mutua Madrid Open Fb
Novak Djokovic sprayed one ultimate forehand past the baseline ending a 6-3, 6-4 Madrid upset loss to Matteo Arnaldi immediately.
Minutes later, Djokovic mentioned that misfire might be his Mutua Madrid Open parting shot.
The 37-year-old Serbian famous person mentioned his third straight loss could also be his ultimate Madrid match.
“It may very well be. It may very well be,” Djokovic advised the media in Madrid immediately. “I am unsure if I’ll come again. So, I do not know, I do not know what to say.
“I imply, I will come again, possibly not as a participant, in fact. I hope it isn’t, however it may very well be.”
The on-court quandary Djokovic faces is one acquainted to longevity champions together with Pancho Gonzalez, Ken Rosewall, Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal.
Advancing age sometimes means gamers should scale back their schedule to be able to keep wholesome for Grand Slams. But with out the constant match play, they then can lose match sharpness, consistency and confidence.
Immediately the rally ball at 30-all which was as soon as so routine for Djokovic misses the mark a bit in Madrid’s altitude and a break level can escalate to disaster level.
Nineteen years after he defeated Richard Gasquet in his Madrid debut, Djokovic confronts a “new actuality” his second three-match dropping streak of the season.
All through his profession, the Grand Slam king has been pushed to seize championships.
Today, Djokovic concedes it is a problem to win matches.
“Type of new actuality for me, I’ve to say,” Djokovic mentioned. “You realize, attempting to win a match or two, probably not fascinated by getting far within the match.
“It is a fully completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years {of professional} tennis, so it is form of a problem for me mentally to essentially face these form of sensations on the courtroom, going out early now often within the tournaments. However, you understand, that is, I assume, the circle of life and the profession (smiling), finally it was going to occur.”
Final August, Djokovic performed a classic Djokovic match out dueling Carlos Alcaraz, 7-6, 7-6, to seize the Olympic gold medal for Serbia.
Persevering with his quest for a one hundredth profession championship and a record-extending twenty fifth Grand Slam crown, Djokovic mentioned he is pushed by main pursuits. The previous world No. 1 additionally sees the large image and is aware of with Alcaraz pulling out of Madrid with harm and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner set to return again for Rome, neither of his two main rivals determine to be 100% for Paris both.
That provides Miami finalist Djokovic hope, however he is aware of profitable is the one reply. Proper now, that is not taking place.
“I am attempting to, you understand, use this as a driving power for the longer term,” Djokovic mentioned. “Clearly Grand Slams, I used to be saying many instances, are crucial tournaments for me. Which does not imply that I do not wish to win right here, in fact I wished to, however, you understand, Grand Slams is the place I actually wish to play the very best tennis.
“I am unsure if I will be capable of do this in Roland Garros, however I will do my finest.”
Roland Garros begins on Could twenty fifth. The query is: Can Djokovic discover his recreation and confidence within the subsequent month? And if he does go deep in Paris, will the bodily pounding on his physique degrade his probabilities for Wimbledon, the Slam many champions imagine is his finest shot for a twenty fifth main?
These query are all a part of his “new actuality.”
Primarily based on his present three-match slide, Djokovic mentioned he is not a French Open favourite and hopes that can alleviate some strain he feels attempting to win his first title since Paris.
“Effectively, I imply, look, strain is a part of the game and a part of what we do on this highest degree, so it is by no means going to go away, you understand, it is simply completely different form of strain,” Djokovic mentioned. “However each time I step on the courtroom I really feel the nerves, I really feel stress, I really feel all the pieces that I assume all the opposite gamers really feel, and pleasure as effectively.
“So, nonetheless wish to compete, it turned a bit tougher for me, to be sincere. However in fact, as I mentioned, I will do my finest for the longer term. Grand Slam, I am not going into Roland Garros as one of many predominant favorites. Possibly that may assist, I do not know, we’ll see.”
