Novak Djokovic has admitted he’s not sure if he’ll be back at the Madrid Open next year – a huge hint he’s considering retirement after another shock first-round loss. Djokovic slumped to his third loss in a row – and second in the first round – as he went down to Italian Matteo Arnaldi 6-3 6-4 in Madrid on Saturday night.

The World No.5 seemed to right the ship when he made the Miami Open final last month, only to suffer a shock loss to young Czech Jakub Menšík in the decider. He was then knocked out of the Monte Carlo Masters by Alejandro Tabilo in the first round, before Saturday’s loss to Arnaldi made it three defeats in a row.

Novak Djokovic dropped a huge retirement hint after losing to Matteo Arnaldi at the Madrid Open. Image: Getty
It comes after concerning footage emerged of Djokovic on the practice court in Madrid in which he appeared to say “f*** tennis” while cutting a dejected figure. Speaking in his post-match press conference after the loss to Arnaldi, the 24-time major champion made the stunning admission he’s not sure whether he’s played his last Madrid Open.

“I’ve had a few of these this year where I lose in the first round, unfortunately,” Djokovic sighed after another sub-par outing littered with 32 unforced errors. “Still my level of tennis is not where I would like it to be.

“It could be (my last Madrid Open), it could be. I’m not sure if I will come back. So, I don’t know, I don’t know what to say. I mean, I’ll come back, maybe not as a player. I hope it’s not, but it could be.”

Tennis world fearing for Novak Djokovic’s retirement

The 37-year-old confessed he’s facing a “new reality” he’s never experienced before. “I was hoping I can play one more match than I played in Monte Carlo,” he said. “(It’s) kind of a new reality for me, I have to say, trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament.

“It’s a completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years of professional tennis. It’s a challenge for me mentally to really face these kinds of sensations on the court – going out early now regularly in tournaments.”

Novak Djokovic admitted he might not be back at the Madrid Open next year. (Photo by Alberto Gardin/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Djokovic can take solace from the fact he made the semi-finals at the Australian Open in January, and still managed to beat Carlos Alcaraz in the quarters with a badly-damaged hamstring. It showed he’s still a force to be reckoned with, but the fact he hasn’t won an ATP title in over 12 months is a huge cause for concern. He’s now lost in the first round in four of his last five tournaments.

Tennis fans and commentators were left pondering on Saturday whether Djokovic’s best is behind him, and how much longer he might play on until calling it quits. The 37-year-old is still one title shy of 100 for his career, after winning his 99th with gold at the Paris Olympics last year. He’s lost four finals since then amid his quest to join Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) as the only men with 100 titles.

Alex de Minaur boost as Novak Djokovic crashes out

Meanwhile, Australia’s Alex de Minaur continued his good form on clay with a clinical 6-2 6-3 victory over another Italian in Lorenzo Sonego. De Minaur made just nine unforced errors as he looks to cash in on Djokovic’s loss and the absence of defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.

With World No.1 Jannik Sinner still suspended, the only players ranked higher than No.7 de Minaur still in the Madrid draw are Alexander Zverev (2), Taylor Fritz (4) and Jack Draper (6). De Minaur won’t have to go through Djokovic or Alcaraz (who withdrew with injury) if he wants to win a first Masters 1000 title on clay.

The Aussie reached the semi-finals in Monte Carlo and the quarters in Barcelona, and admits he now feels completely different on the clay this year – full of confidence on a surface that once tormented him. “I was very happy with how I settled mentally, and was able to bounce back straight back after losing my serve first game and I really ended up playing some great tennis. So very happy with that,” he said.

Alex de Minaur made a brilliant start to his Madrid Open campaign. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images)