'I'm not sure if I will come back' - Novak Djokovic makes audacious claim after Mutua Madrid Open first round exit

Tennis star Novak Djokovic has crashed out of the Mutua Madrid Open 2025 after losing against Matteo Arnaldi in his opening round. The Italian sensation has defeated the 24-time Grand Slam winner with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-4, and stormed into the Round of 32.

Djokovic has made it to the finals of the Miami Open 2025 but suffered first-round exits in the Qatar Open, Indian Wells, Monte Carlo, and Mutua Madrid Open. This is one of the disappointments ahead of the French Open 2025, where he will be looking to win his 25th Grand Slam title.

Is Novak Djokovic on the verge of retirement?

After the first-round defeat, the Serbian ace admitted that he might have played his last game in the Spanish city of Madrid, Spain. The star player was expected to at least storm into the pre-quarters or quarters, but his defeat has disappointed the tennis fraternity, especially his loving fans who were eagerly waiting to celebrate his 100th ATP title win.

After the defeat, the Serbian was asked if this could be his last match in Madrid, to which he admitted that this could be true. The 37-year-old tennis legend stated that he might not come here as a player. His statements gained mixed reactions from his fans, with some showcasing sympathy towards him and assuming he will be taking his retirement soon. On the other hand, some were seen pushing him to compete here again to stage his comeback.

"It could be. It could be. I'm not sure if I will come back. I mean, I'll come back, maybe not as a player, of course. I hope it's not, but it could be. [My expectations were] Not big at all, to be honest. I was hoping I can play one more match than I played in Monte Carlo. It's a completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years of professional tennis, so it's kind of a challenge for me mentally to really face these kind of sensations on the court, going out early now regularly in the tournaments," Novak Djokovic said.

Also Checkout: Novak Djokovic Eyes 100th ATP Title at Mutua Madrid Open 2025