MADRID — In a dramatic moment, Novak Djokovic cupped his ear, beckoning the audience for more cheers after an extraordinary chase down of a seemingly lost ball that culminated in a stunning point victory.
However, the energy failed to ignite a comeback, as Djokovic succumbed to Matteo Arnaldi in straight sets during his opening match of the Madrid Open on Saturday.
The seasoned 37-year-old has now faced three consecutive defeats: first in the Miami final, then to Alejandro Tabilo at the Monte Carlo Masters two weeks ago, casting shadows on his early clay-court performance ahead of the French Open next month.
Arnaldi claimed victory with a score of 6-3, 6-4, putting a temporary halt to Djokovic’s pursuit of a milestone 100th title. Djokovic struggled with 32 unforced errors compared to Arnaldi’s 18 and suffered three service breaks.
This marked the first encounter between Djokovic and Arnaldi, currently ranked 44th in the world.
“He’s my idol; he’s always been,” Arnaldi expressed regarding Djokovic. “Competing against him at this level feels like a triumph in itself. I aimed to deliver my best tennis, and it worked out.”
After securing a critical second-set break, Arnaldi celebrated, turning to the crowd with raised arms. Djokovic sought to respond, even earning three break points, but Arnaldi held strong and finished the match against the three-time champion.
With a creative touch, he wrote “OMG” (Oh my God) on the camera using a marker, a now-familiar gesture among winners addressing the TV audience.
Djokovic still seeks his first title of the year, having achieved his 99th title last August at the Paris Olympics. Since then, he has been runner-up in four finals. Only two players have crossed the 100-title threshold: Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103).
Looking ahead, Arnaldi will face Damir Dzumhur, who advanced past Sebastian Baez with a comeback victory of 1-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Andreeva Advances to Last 16 Again
Russian sensation Mirra Andreeva has once again reached the last 16, marking her third consecutive year by overcoming Magdalena Frech with a score of 7-5, 6-3.
The 17-year-old, currently ranked No. 7, has yet to experience an early exit before the fourth round in Madrid.
This year has been special for Andreeva, who made her breakthrough in 2023 as a wild card participant. Last year, she made her first significant quarterfinal run in the Spanish capital.
“I was incredibly nervous,” Andreeva admitted. “I still face challenges in finding my best form in Madrid, but I’m thrilled that I could maintain consistency throughout the match.”
As she prepares to turn 18 on Tuesday, Andreeva will next battle against Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva, who triumphed over 18th-seeded Liudmila Samsonova in a thrilling three-set matchup.
