Novak Djokovic has made the decision to withdraw from the upcoming Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, following his unexpected defeat to Matteo Arnaldi during the second round of the Madrid Open. This recent setback marks a difficult period for the world No. 5, who is currently experiencing a five-match losing streak. His latest loss occurred on Saturday against the world No. 44, Matteo Arnaldi, which has left Djokovic still searching for his first victory of the clay-court season.
Historically, Djokovic has had a challenging experience at the Italian Open. During last year’s tournament, he managed to win only a single match before his exit, a performance that underwhelmed his fans and supporters. Since he first participated in the Rome tournament in 2007, Djokovic has been a consistent competitor, boasting an impressive record of 68 wins to just 12 losses, along with six titles to his name.
British tennis coach Jamie Delgado provided insight into Djokovic’s recent struggles, suggesting that the player’s dissatisfaction on the court has been evident in his performances over the past tournaments. “I don’t think it’s a huge surprise in the sense that it hasn’t looked like he’s been overly happy on the tennis court in the last couple of tournaments,” Delgado noted. He went on to explain that Djokovic’s main focus is on preparing for the French Open, indicating that the best way for the Serbian player to gear up for this significant event is by taking time off, allowing him to rest and regain his energy.
While this decision to step back may appear substantial, particularly in preparation for clay courts where match experience is crucial, it reflects Djokovic’s understanding of the mental and physical demands of the sport. As Delgado pointed out, “It’s a big decision as well because, especially on clay, he wouldn’t have had the matches that he would want going into the French Open, but that is some of the give and take – have a little break and freshen up his brain for the big one, but without the matches. He’s happy to go for that option clearly.”
After his defeat to Arnaldi, where he lost 6-3, 6-4, Djokovic expressed the challenges he’s facing. “It’s a completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years of professional tennis,” he shared, highlighting his struggle to adapt to the newfound sensations on the court. He acknowledged the mental challenges of facing early exits in tournaments more frequently than usual.
Despite Djokovic’s remarkable history, having spent more weeks at the No. 1 ranking than any other player in tennis history, he currently finds himself sitting in fifth place, a position that might be perplexing for many of his ardent followers. So far, the only title Djokovic claimed in 2024 or 2025 was the gold medal he secured by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the finals of the Paris Olympics last August.
In addition to these challenges, it’s worth noting that Djokovic had to retire from the Australian Open earlier in January due to a torn hamstring, further complicating his current season. As he takes this break from the Italian Open, all eyes will be on Djokovic as he strategizes his return to form ahead of the highly anticipated French Open.
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