Djokovic Hints at Retirement After Madrid Open Exit
Former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic raised eyebrows regarding his future in tennis after suffering a defeat at the Madrid Open 2025. On April 26, Italian player Matteo Arnaldi knocked Djokovic out in the Round of 64 with a score of 6-3, 6-4.
This loss marks Djokovic’s fourth first-round exit in just five tournaments. The only tournament where he advanced past the first round was the Miami Open, where he finished as runner-up after being defeated by Jakub Mensik in the final.
Before heading to Madrid, Djokovic faced early exits from the Qatar Open, Indian Wells, and the Monte Carlo Masters. After his loss to Arnaldi, he expressed uncertainty about returning to Madrid next year.
"Of course, losing a match doesn’t feel great, and this year I’ve had several early exits," Djokovic told reporters. "But I found joy in playing this time, even more than at Monte Carlo or other events. Still, my level of tennis isn’t where I want it to be, but I lost to a better player.”
Djokovic, who will turn 38 in May, also shared thoughts on his future, saying, "I might come back, but maybe not as a player. I hope it doesn’t come to that, but it’s a new reality for me. Right now, I’m just trying to win a match or two, not focusing on going far in tournaments."
In his reflections, Djokovic acknowledged the challenges he faces against younger players. "It feels different from my first 20 years in professional tennis. It’s mentally tough to deal with losing early regularly, but I suppose that’s the circle of life and career."
Before the French Open, Djokovic will have another opportunity to find his form at the Italian Open, starting on May 7.
