Novak Djokovic’s quest for another Grand Slam title hit another bump at the 2025 Madrid Open, with Serena Williams’ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, offering a candid assessment of the Serbian’s chances going forward.
Djokovic suffered a surprising 6-3, 6-4 defeat to world No. 44 Matteo Arnaldi in the second round, marking his third straight loss in straight sets. His previous defeats came against Alejandro Tabilo at the Monte Carlo Masters and Jakub Mensik in the Miami Open final.
This marks Djokovic’s second three-match losing streak of 2025, following early exits at the Australian Open, Qatar Open, and Indian Wells Masters earlier in the year.
The 37-year-old, who turns 38 next month, last captured a Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open, bringing his record major tally to 24. Since then, he has reached the Wimbledon final and the semifinals at the last two Australian Opens but has been unable to add to his historic haul.
Djokovic’s next opportunity will come at the French Open, starting May 25, where he hopes to strengthen his legacy at a venue where he recently won — claiming gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics held at Stade Roland Garros.
Rennae Stubbs: “You Can’t Buy Confidence”
Reacting to Djokovic’s latest setback, Stubbs took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her perspective. While she believes Djokovic is still capable of winning another Slam, she warned that the mental aspect of his game is faltering.
“Do I think he can still win a Slam? Of course! He’s the greatest player of all time,” Stubbs wrote. “BUT it’s getting harder and harder every week because, I don’t care who you are, you can’t buy confidence! You have to earn it, and currently his confidence is getting chipped away more and more.”
Stubbs also credited Arnaldi for his poise under pressure, highlighting a critical moment when the Italian overcame a 0-40 deficit after breaking Djokovic’s serve in the second set.
“Arnaldi played awesome!!! But looking at the match closely, the way he handled the tough moments — locking down and being the better player — shows the shift. It’s not Novak anymore.”
What’s Next for Djokovic?
Djokovic will look to regain form at the Italian Open in Rome (May 7–18), where he is a six-time champion. With a potential rankings slide looming, and rivals closing in, the road to Grand Slam No. 25 is shaping up to be one of Djokovic’s toughest challenges yet.