Alex de Minaur kicked off his Madrid Open campaign in impressive fashion, while 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic suffered a shock early exit.
De Minaur delivered a commanding 6-2, 6-3 win over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in the round of 64 on Saturday, although his strong performance was somewhat overshadowed by Djokovic’s latest setback.
The former world number one endured his third consecutive defeat, falling 6-3, 6-4 to Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in another disappointing first-round loss.
After the match, the 37-year-old Djokovic reflected on his future in Madrid.
“I might come back, maybe not as a player,” he said.
“I’ve had a few early exits this year. Unfortunately, my level of tennis isn’t where I want it to be.”
Meanwhile, De Minaur’s growing confidence on clay was evident.
Ranked world number seven, De Minaur is eyeing a deep run at the Masters 1000 event, known for its quick-playing Madrid courts.
“I was really pleased with how I handled things mentally after losing my serve in the opening game,” De Minaur said.
“I ended up playing some really great tennis, so I’m very happy with that.”
De Minaur will now face Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in the third round, after Shapovalov dispatched Kei Nishikori 6-1, 6-4.
