Djokovic Suffers Third Straight Loss to Arnaldi in Madrid Open

Novak Djokovic suffered a surprising straight-sets defeat to Italy's Matteo Arnaldi in the second round of the Madrid Open, marking his second consecutive opening-match loss at a Masters 1000 event. Arnaldi, ranked 44th and a self-confessed Djokovic fan, claimed the biggest win of his career with a 6-3, 6-4 victory, capitalizing on Djokovic's 32 unforced errors and subdued form. This loss extends a difficult period for Djokovic, who also exited early from Monte Carlo and Miami, with commentators noting that he appeared listless and off-pace in Madrid. Arnaldi described the experience as surreal, highlighting the significance of facing and defeating his idol on such a prominent stage. The result delays Djokovic’s pursuit of his 100th career title and underscores ongoing struggles in his clay-court season. Meanwhile, other notable performances included Lorenzo Musetti advancing and Mirra Andreeva reaching the last 16 in the women's draw.