Arnaldi stuns Djokovic in Madrid Open upset

Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic faced a surprising early exit at the Madrid Open on Saturday after losing to Matteo Arnaldi in the opening round.

The defeat added to the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s ongoing challenges on clay courts as the build-up to Roland Garros continues.

Arnaldi secured a 6-3, 6-4 victory, halting Djokovic’s hunt for his landmark 100th career title. Djokovic struggled with 32 unforced errors during the match, which proved costly.

After clinching a key break in the second set, Arnaldi turned to the crowd in celebration. Though Djokovic fought back, creating three break points, the Italian held his nerve to defend his serve and wrap up a memorable win against the three-time Madrid Open champion.

The 37-year-old Djokovic remains titleless this season, with his last victory recorded at the Paris Masters in August when he claimed his 99th career title. Since then, he has finished as runner-up in four finals.