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 in the present day.
Minutes later, Djokovic mentioned that misfire might be his Mutua Madrid Open parting shot.
The 37-year-old Serbian celebrity mentioned his third straight loss could also be his ultimate Madrid match.
“It could possibly be. It could possibly be,” Djokovic advised the media in Madrid in the present day. “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, perhaps not as a participant, after all. I hope it isn’t, however it could possibly 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 cut back their schedule in an effort to keep wholesome for Grand Slams. But with out the constant match play, they then can lose match sharpness, consistency and confidence.
Instantly 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.
Nowadays, Djokovic concedes it is a problem to win matches.
“Form of new actuality for me, I’ve to say,” Djokovic mentioned. “, making an attempt to win a match or two, not likely fascinated with getting far within the event.
“It is a utterly 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 essentially face these form of sensations on the court docket, going out early now recurrently within the tournaments. However, you recognize, that is, I assume, 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 damage 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 occurring.
“I am making an attempt to, you recognize, use this as a driving power for the longer term,” Djokovic mentioned. “Clearly Grand Slams, I used to be saying many instances, are a very powerful tournaments for me. Which does not imply that I do not wish to win right here, after all I wished to, however, you recognize, Grand Slams is the place I actually wish to play one of the 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 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 probabilities for Wimbledon, the Slam many champions consider is his finest shot for a twenty fifth main?
These query are all a part of his “new actuality.”
Based mostly on his present three-match slide, Djokovic mentioned he isn’t a French Open favourite and hopes that can alleviate some stress he feels making an attempt to win his first title since Paris.
“Properly, I imply, look, stress is a part of the game and a part of what we do on this highest stage, so it is by no means going to go away, you recognize, it is simply totally different form of stress,” Djokovic mentioned. “However each time I step on the court docket I really feel the nerves, I really feel stress, I really feel all the things that I assume all the opposite gamers really feel, and pleasure as nicely.
“So, nonetheless prefer to compete, it turned a bit more difficult for me, to be trustworthy. However after all, 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 major favorites. Perhaps that may assist, I do not know, we’ll see.”
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