In one of the most surprising results of the 2025 tennis season, Novak Djokovic was knocked out of the Madrid Open by Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in a straight-sets defeat. Arnaldi, ranked No. 44 in the world, played the match of his career to dispatch the Serbian legend 6-3, 6-4 in just 1 hour and 41 minutes.
The 24-year-old Italian displayed confidence and composure throughout the match, taking advantage of a below-par Djokovic who has struggled with form and fitness following his injury earlier this year at the Australian Open. Djokovic, now 37, looked off the pace, with his trademark movement and precision noticeably absent for much of the contest.
Arnaldi broke Djokovic's serve early in both sets, setting the tone for an aggressive yet disciplined performance. Djokovic attempted to mount a comeback in the second set, managing to create a few break-point opportunities, but Arnaldi held firm under pressure, delivering powerful groundstrokes and serving impressively at key moments.
This defeat marks Djokovic’s fourth first-match exit in his last five tournaments, raising serious questions about his readiness for the clay season's marquee event, Roland Garros, which is now just a few weeks away. The Madrid loss continues a worrying trend for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who has not lifted a title since his gold medal run at the 2024 Olympics.
For Arnaldi, the victory represents the biggest win of his career so far. Not only did he beat a player of Djokovic’s stature, but he also ended the Serbian’s perfect record in Madrid against opponents ranked outside the top 30 — a record that had previously remained intact across Djokovic’s illustrious career at this tournament.
The Madrid Open has now seen multiple upsets, with top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune also suffering early exits. With Djokovic’s loss, the tournament is wide open, offering a major opportunity for rising stars like Arnaldi to make deeper runs.
Speaking after the match, Arnaldi expressed his disbelief and excitement: "It’s a dream come true to beat Novak. I tried to stay focused on my game, not to think too much about who was on the other side of the net. I’m just really proud of how I played today."
Djokovic, meanwhile, cut a frustrated figure during his brief post-match comments. He acknowledged his struggles but remained hopeful about his chances in Paris: "It’s not ideal, of course. I’ll keep working. Roland Garros is still the main goal."
As the clay-court season heats up, all eyes will be on how Djokovic responds — and whether Matteo Arnaldi can continue his breakout performance in Madrid.
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