Three-time champion Novak Djokovic hinted that he may have played the Madrid Masters for the last time after being knocked out in the second round by Italy's Matteo Arnaldi. The Serb admitted he did not know if he would return to the Spanish capital.
Arnaldi beat fourth-seeded Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 to reach the third round. The 37-year-old Serb suffered his third straight defeat.
Djokovic, who is chasing his 100th ATP title, suffered a surprise loss in the final in Miami in late March before falling in the second round in Monte Carlo earlier this month. All three losses were in straight sets.
"Obviously, after you lose a match, you don't feel good, but I had a few of those this year when I was out in the first round, unfortunately," Djokovic told a news conference.
"I think the positive thing is that I really had more fun than I did in Monte Carlo or any other tournament, so that's good. But my level of tennis is still not where I want it to be. But I lost to a better player," he added.
The Serb, who made his Madrid debut in 2006 and won the tournament in 2011, 2016 and 2019, was looking for his first clay court victory since beating Carlos Alcaraz for gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Asked if he had played his last match in Madrid, Djokovic said: "It's possible. Maybe yes. I'm not sure if I'll 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 not, but it could happen".
Djokovic won three of the four Slams in 2023, but has struggled to match his form since then, failing to win a trophy last year.
"It's a new reality for me, trying to win a match or two without thinking about going any further in the tournament. It's a completely different feeling than what I've had in over 20 years of professional tennis, so it's a mental challenge for me to really face those feelings on the court, losing early now on a regular basis in tournaments. But I guess that's the circle of life and career, it was going to happen eventually," the Serb added.
The former world number 1 holds ATP Masters 1000 records for most wins (414), semifinals (79), finals (60) and titles (40).