Novak Djokovic has had a glorious career, and he has not often faced early exits from major tournaments. However, the Serbian has suffered three consecutive losses and hasn’t been able to make a deeper run in the big competitions this year.
Djokovic suffered a straight set loss against Matteo Arnaldi on Saturday and the 24-time Grand Slam champion said it is a different feeling and mental challenge for him.
“I was hoping I can play one more match than I played in Monte-Carlo. [It’s] kind of a new reality for me, I have to say,” Djokovic said after his 6-3, 6-4 loss to Arnaldi. “Trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament… It’s a completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years of professional tennis.
“It’s a challenge for me mentally to really face these kinds of sensations on the court, going out early now regularly in tournaments.”
Djokovic admitted he knew it was going to be a tough game for him and showered praise on Arnaldi as the Italian brought his best.
“Obviously, after you lose a match you don’t feel good, but I’ve had a few of these this year where I lose in the first round, unfortunately,” Djokovic added. “I knew that it was going to be a really tough opening match for me in this tournament. Arnaldi is a really good player, a quality player.
“I didn’t have too many matches on clay. I did practise well, but it’s completely different when you step out on the match court. I think the positive thing is that I really enjoyed myself more than I [did] in Monte-Carlo, so that’s a good thing. But obviously, the level of tennis is not where I would like it to be.
“But, that’s the circle of life and the career, eventually it was going to happen.”
The veteran said pressure is always there when he takes the court but he needs to come up with better performances.
“Pressure is part of the sport and part of what we do on this highest level, so it’s never going to go away, it’s just a different kind of pressure,” Djokovic added. “But every time I step on the court I feel the nerves, I feel stress, I feel everything that I guess all the other players feel, and excitement as well.
“[Competing] became a bit more challenging for me, to be honest. But of course I’ll do my best for the future.”
Barring making it to the semifinal of the Australian Open and the final of the Miami Open, Djokovic has suffered first-round losses in Indian Wells, Qatar Open, and now Madrid Open.
