Arnaldi knocks out faltering Djokovic in seismic win at Madrid Open
The Italian defeated an under-par Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 at the Caja Mágica. He will go on to face Bosnian Damir Dzumhur in the next round
Novak Djokovic, Madrid Masters, 2025 © Manu Fernandez/AP/SIPA
Matteo Arnaldi earned the biggest win of his career by taking down an out of sorts Novak Djokovic, beating the three-time champion 6-3, 6-4 to move into the third round of the Madrid Open.
In a season that has been defined largely by the struggle to rediscover his former powers, this latest upset for Djokovic feels most damaging in the sense that one has to question whether this was, indeed, an upset.
Early exits at the hands of lower-ranked opponents are now a routine occurrence for the former world No 1, having this year been beaten by Botic van de Zandschulp, Alejandro Tabilo and now Matteo Arnaldi in the first rounds of Indian Wells, Monte-Carlo and Madrid respectively.
He also lost to the resurgent Matteo Berrettini in the first round in Doha, meaning – aside from his encouraging run to the final in Miami – Djokovic has now been knocked out in his first match at four of his last five tournaments.
This defeat also marks another alarming low that Djokovic has experienced only once in his career. Having also fallen at the opening hurdle in Monaco two weeks ago, the Serb has suffered consecutive first-round losses at 1000-level events for just the second time, and the first since his opening-match losses across the ‘Sunshine Double’ back in 2018.
With coach Andy Murray watching on from his box inside the cavernous Manolo Santana court, there was little advice that could aid Djokovic as he grappled for any sort of consistent rhythm.
The Serb matched Arnaldi’s 21 winners across the contest, but a damaging total of 32 unforced errors compared to the Italian’s 18 laid bare the extent of Djokovic’s struggles.
Arnaldi, for his part, played some excellent tennis. The world No 44 was sharp throughout the encounter and raised his level at the most crucial junctures – most notably during a stunning rally to clinch the decisive break in the seventh game of the second set.
But it is hard to escape the fact that this result feels less like a career-defining accomplishment for Arnaldi, and more so another chapter in the tale of Djokovic’s continued plight.
arnaldi earns dream win over “idol” Djokovic
The 24-time Grand Slam champion looked unsettled from the start, losing serve in just the second game of the match before breaking straight back in the next.
But after that early exchange of breaks, a desperately poor service game from the Serbian at 4-3 down, in which he double-faulted twice in succession, handed Arnaldi a gift-wrapped chance to serve for the opening set – an opportunity the Italian happily accepted.
Some stability at the start of the second stanza quickly fell away as Arnaldi earned his third break of the match to move 4-3 up. Two break point opportunities for Djokovic came and went in the next game, before the impressive Italian duly served out a momentous win two games later on his second match point.
Arnaldi has long looked up to Djokovic, and he made no secret of that fact in a refreshingly warm and humble post-match interview.
“He’s my idol. He always has been,” the Italian said.
“I was just glad I could play him because I never played him, I only practised once with him. So to play him at a stage like this was already a victory for me.
“He’s not at his best right now. I came on court to try to play my best tennis and win. Right now, I don’t even know what to say.”
Next up for Arnaldi will be a meeting with Bosnian Damir Dzumhur in the third round, as the 24-year-old looks to build on a milestone victory that many – especially in Italian tennis circles – will say has been in the making for some time for this burgeoning young talent.
At the other end of the career spectrum, however, the most successful men’s player of all time continues to grapple with one of the few battles he is destined to lose – the passage of time.
Ironically, it is time that will tell if the great Serb has one last trick up his sleeve in the closing days of his unparalled career.
