By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, April 26, 2025
Picture credit score: Mutua Madrid Open Fb
Novak Djokovic sprayed one closing forehand past the baseline ending a 6-3, 6-4 Madrid upset loss to Matteo Arnaldi in the present day.
Minutes later, Djokovic mentioned that misfire could be his Mutua Madrid Open parting shot.
The 37-year-old Serbian celebrity mentioned his third straight loss could also be his closing Madrid match.
“It may very well be. It may very well be,” Djokovic instructed the media in Madrid in the present day. “I am undecided if I’ll come again. So, I do not know, I do not know what to say.
“I imply, I am going to come again, perhaps not as a participant, after all. I hope it is not, but it surely 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 usually means gamers should scale back their schedule with a view to keep wholesome for Grand Slams. But with out the constant match play, they then can lose match sharpness, consistency and confidence.
Abruptly 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.
“Sort of new actuality for me, I’ve to say,” Djokovic mentioned. “You already know, attempting to win a match or two, not likely fascinated about 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 type of a problem for me mentally to essentially face these type of sensations on the courtroom, going out early now often within the tournaments. However, you already know, that is, I suppose, the circle of life and the profession (smiling), ultimately 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 come back again for Rome, neither of his two main rivals determine to be one hundred pc 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 already know, use this as a driving power for the longer term,” Djokovic mentioned. “Clearly Grand Slams, I used to be saying many occasions, are an important tournaments for me. Which does not imply that I do not wish to win right here, after all I wished to, however, you already know, Grand Slams is the place I actually wish to play the very best tennis.
“I am undecided if I am going to be capable to try this in Roland Garros, however I am going to do my greatest.”
Roland Garros begins on Might 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 possibilities for Wimbledon, the Slam many champions consider is his greatest 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 isn’t a French Open favourite and hopes that may alleviate some stress he feels attempting to win his first title since Paris.
“Effectively, I imply, look, stress 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 already know, it is simply completely different type of stress,” 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 suppose all the opposite gamers really feel, and pleasure as effectively.
“So, nonetheless wish to compete, it turned a bit more difficult for me, to be sincere. However after all, as I mentioned, I am going to do my greatest for the longer term. Grand Slam, I am not going into Roland Garros as one of many major favorites. Perhaps that may assist, I do not know, we’ll see.”
