Photo credit: Mutua Madrid Open Facebook
It was face time in Madrid—and Novak Djokovic encountered a dirt dilemma.
Midway through the second set, Djokovic and Matteo Arnaldi went nose-to-nose at net before the Italian flicked a pass for the crucial break for a 4-3 second-set lead.
That sequence summed up Arnaldi’s 6-3, 6-4 sweep of Djokovic today.
The World No. 44 was a half-step quicker and one shot sharper than the Grand Slam king.
"Obviously after you lose a match you don't feel good, but I've had a few of these this year where I lose in the first round, unfortunately," Djokovic told the media in Madrid. "Yeah, I knew that it's going to be a really tough opening match for me in this tournament. Arnaldi is a really good player, quality player. I didn't have too many matches on clay.
"I did practice well, but it's completely different when you step out on the match court. I think the positive thing is that I really enjoyed myself more than I have, you know, in the Monte-Carlo or some other tournament, so that's a good thing. But obviously still level of tennis is not where I would like it to be.
"But, you know, it is what it is. I lost to a better player."
Playing his idol for the first time, Arnaldi had one simple aim.
"At the start, I was just trying not to shit my pants, to be honest," Arnaldi said with a smile. "Because when I got on court, I've never played on this court, to be honest, I've never even practiced on it."
It’s a historic upset for Arnaldi, who is the first man ranked outside the Top 30 to defeat the former world No. 1 in Madrid. He didn't soil himself either, though he sure dirtied up his shoes with some determined gets of Djokovic drop shots.
Growing up in Italy, Arnaldi watched Djokovic matches and dreamed of someday playing his tennis hero. Today, he turned their first encounter into a dream day.
“I just tried to enjoy, but when you get on court it’s a little bit different,” Arnaldi told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj afterward. “Because you don’t know if you’re going to get this chance again. It’s always been my dream to play him.
"I just wanted to enjoy it and not go off the court having some regrets.”
This red clay loss puts Djokovic fans on red alert with Roland Garros looming one month from now.
It is Djokovic’s third straight loss following his 6-3, 6-4 defeat to Alejandro Tabilo in Monte-Carlo and his 7-6(4), 7-6(4) loss to 19-year-old Jakub Mensik in the Miami Open final.
Traditionally, gluten-free Djokovic absorbs three-match losing streaks about as often as he gorges on pizza.
Yet this is his second three-match losing streak of 2025 following his retirement from the Australian Open semifinals, his Doha defeat to Matteo Berrettini and Indian Wells setback to Botic van de Zandschulp.
You can point to the 37-year-old Serbian superstar’s advancing age—he turns 38 on May 22nd—declining confidence, lack of match play or the fact the rest of the world’s players are so pumped up to play him.
Reflecting on it all, Djokovic said he must accept this is the player he is right now.
"I mean, 20 years, you know, I didn't experience what I'm experiencing in the last 12 months," Djokovic told the media in Madrid. "So, you know, early exits and, you know, way too many. But it is part of the sport, and you have to accept the circumstances and try to make the best out of the circumstances in your favor for whatever is coming up.
"Yeah, I mean, look, I cannot sit here and complain about my career or anything, you know, I'm not doing that. But it's a different feeling that I just have to embrace, accept, and deal with in a special way."
Today, Djokovic showed flashes of the form that helped him beat Carlos Alcaraz to win the Olympic gold medal on red clay in Paris last summer.
The problem for Djokovic is he could not sustain that level for long stretches, he did not play pivotal points with as much precision as Arnaldi—Djokovic scattered 32 unforced errors, 14 more than his opponent—and the Italian was more inspired on break points. Arnaldi converted all three of his break point chances, while Djokovic was one of five on break-point conversions.
Throughout much of his career, Djokovic was been nearly invincible in extended rallies on key points, but now there are cracks in the confidence and consistency. Playing in Madrid's altitude, control sometimes eluded Djokovic as shots flew on him at times. Djokovic dropped to an un-Djokovic like 12-7 on the season.
"At the start, [my tactic] was try to be solid, try to run a little bit to try to get into the match because I was a little nervous," Arnaldi said. "I wanted to do big rallies to get into the match, that was the main tactic.
"I saw he wanted to get out of rallies. I saw her wanted to make winners…And when I had the chance to go and play big shots, [I did]. I think that was the main strategy."
Before a packed Madrid crowd that included Madrid Tournament Director and former Djokovic rival Feliciano Lopez and actress Eva Longoria, Arnaldi came out playing higher-energy tennis in his first meeting vs. the 10-time Australian Open champion.
The Olympic gold-medal champion missed a forehand wide to cede the opening break and a 2-0 lead to Arnaldi. Djokovic was striking with more depth as he broke back and leveled after four games.
Three-time champion Djokovic delivered moments of dazzle, including a drop shot struck so softly it died like a soap bubble on the dirt. However, maintaining high level tennis was a challenge in the opening set. Djokovic netted back-to-back double faults gifting the crucial break and 5-3 lead to his opponent.
Exploiting a couple of backhand down the line misses from the former No. 1 helped Arnaldi earn double set point. Djokovic went right back to his typically rock-solid backhand down the line, but missed it again as Arnaldi snatched a one-set lead after 48 minutes of play.
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Midway through the second set, the plot line shifted. Arnaldi, who was 1-7 lifetime vs. Top 5 players before today, battled through a seven-minute hold in the seventh game. Arnaldi dipped a drop shot to draw Djokovic in then beat him with a backhand pass to even the set at 3-all.
Deadlocked at 30-all, Djokovic played a proactive point, was in prime position for a routine volley, but knocked it into net to face break point.
That rousing net duel followed with Arnaldi popping a pass by Djokovic to break for 4-3.
The 24-year-old Italian grew up looking up to Djokovic, but showed no signs fo hero worship serving for a massive upset. Arnaldi surged to a 40-0 lead and converted his second match point on a Djokovic forehand error closing in one hour, 41 minutes.
Arnaldi will face Damir Dzumhur in round three. Djokovic, continuing his hunt for a 100th career title, will face a decision on playing the Rome Masters or opting for a longer training block before Roland Garros, which starts on May 25th.