Novak Djokovic said he had to face up to his “new reality” after another opening-match loss, this time to world No. 44 Matteo Arnaldi at the Madrid Open. “Trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament,” Djokovic said in a news conference Saturday of his expectations going into events in 2025.

Novak Djokovic will not be playing in the Rome Open (Italian Open also known as Internazionali BNL d'Italia) between 7-18 May, 2025 with the former World No.1 seemingly only playing Roland Garros now on his clay court quest.

After losing a second straight opening match and three in a row overall, Novak Djokovic said he was facing a “new reality” in his two decades of pro tennis. Djokovic's public coming to terms with his rare losing streak came after he fell in straight sets to Matteo Arnaldi in his first match of the Madrid Open on Saturday.