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,

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.

On Saturday, the 4-seed Djokovic took on unseeded Matteo Arnaldi in their first-ever meeting. Arnaldi defeated Djokovic in straight sets during their second-round match at the Madrid Open: 6-3, 6-4.