Novak Djokovic retiring quickly? Ex-World No.1 drops delicate trace after Madrid Open exit
Former World No.1 Novak Djokovic dropped delicate hints of retirement after he crashed out of the Madrid Open 2025. On Saturday, April 26, Matteo Arnaldi of Italy defeated the previous World No.1 6-3, 6-4, within the Spherical of 64 at Manolo Santana.
It was Djokovic’s fourth first-round exit in his final 5 tournaments on the Tour. The one time he went past the opening spherical was within the Miami Open, the place he completed because the runner-up after shedding to Jakub Mensik within the ultimate.
Previous to Madrid, the 24-time Grand Slam champion couldn’t transcend the primary spherical on the Qatar Open, Indian Wells and Monte Carlo Masters. After shedding to Arnaldi, Djokovic stated that he won’t return to Madrid subsequent 12 months.
“Clearly, after you lose a match you do not really feel good, however I’ve had a couple of of those this 12 months the place I lose within the first spherical, sadly. I feel the optimistic factor is that I actually loved myself greater than I’ve within the Monte-Carlo or another match, in order that’s an excellent factor. However clearly, nonetheless stage of tennis will not be the place I would love it to be. However it’s what it’s. I misplaced to a greater participant,” Djokovic advised the reporters after the match.
“I imply, I will come again, perhaps not as a participant. I hope it is not, nevertheless it may very well be. (It is) form of new actuality for me, I’ve to say. You already know, attempting to win a match or two, not likely fascinated with getting far within the match,” Djokovic stated.
‘Circle of life’
Djokovic, who will flip 38 in Might, remains to be trying to win his one centesimal ATP title since his 99th title on the US Open in 2023. The Serb stated that he has had his justifiable share of challenges going through gamers a lot youthful and agile than him.
“It is a fully totally different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years {of professional} tennis, so it is form of a problem for me mentally to actually face these sorts of sensations on the court docket, going out early now usually within the tournaments. However that is, I suppose, the circle of life and the profession, ultimately it was going to occur,” Djokovic added.
Earlier than the French Open, Djokovic will get one other likelihood to regain his type within the Italian Open, which is scheduled to get underway on Might 7.
