Novak Djokovic drops fresh hint on tennis future after latest surprise defeat

Novak Djokovic has conceded he is facing a new reality in his tennis career after . The 37-year-old suffered his third consecutive defeat after succumbing 6-3, 6-4 to unseeded Italian Matteo Arnaldi and admitted it could yet be his last match in the Spanish capital.

this year but has seen some difficult moments as the year has wore on. Djokovic lost in the but , as he suffered with an eye infection.

Things did not improve against Arnaldi however as he failed to find any rhythm in the match. The 24-times grand slam title winner, who is coached by former rival , suggested he came into the tournament with low expectations and is needng to adjust to a new mentality in his career.

"It could be. It could be," Djokovic replied when asked if it could be his final foray in Madrid. "I’m not sure if I will come back. So, I don’t know, I don’t know what to say.

"I mean, I’ll come back, maybe not as a player, of course. I hope it’s not, but it could be."

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“I was hoping I could play one more match than I played in Monte Carlo," he added. "Kind of a new reality for me, I have to say. 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, so it’s kind of a challenge for me mentally to really face these sensations on the court, going out early now regularly in the tournaments.

"But that’s, I guess, the circle of life and the career, eventually it was going to happen. Now I’m trying to use this as a driving force for the future.

"Obviously grand slams, I was saying many times, are the most important tournaments for me. Which doesn’t mean that I don’t want to win here, of course I wanted to, but grand slams are where I really want to play the best tennis. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do that in Roland Garros, but I’ll do my best."

Arnaldi, who defeated Borna Coric in three sets while Djokovic received a bye due to his fourth seed, proved a stiff test for the tennis legend. The 24-year-old is currently ranked as no 44 but Djokovic has only lost in the opening round of consecutive Masters 1000 events once.

“[For] 20 years, I didn’t experience what I’m experiencing in the last 12 months," Djokovic said. “Early exits and way too many. But it is part of the sport, and you have to accept the circumstances and try to make the best out of the circumstances in your favour for whatever is coming up.

"Look, I cannot sit here and complain about my career or anything. I’m not doing that. But it’s a different feeling that I just have to embrace, accept and deal with in a special way."