Novak Djokovic enters Madrid Masters, seeks fourth Caja Magica title

Novak Djokovic will return to the Madrid Masters subsequent month. The three-time Caja Magica champion will compete within the Spanish capital for the primary time since 2022 and solely the second after 2019. 

Thus, Novak ought to enter the opening 4 Masters 1000 occasions of the season, making a change compared to 2024 and enjoying way more usually on the collection the place he has achieved a lot.

He’s 30-9 in Madrid, debuting in 2006 on an indoor arduous courtroom and reaching the semi-final a yr later.

— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) March 25, 2025

The Serb has been among the many gamers to beat at Caja Magica since 2009, shedding that epic semi-final to Rafael Nadal in 2009 and lifted a trophy two years later over his nice rival. Djokovic fell to Janko Tipsarevic on the blue clay in 2012. 

A yr later, Grigor Dimitrov ousted him within the second spherical, with Novak enjoying in opposition to his rival and your complete stadium. The Serb didn’t play in Madrid in 2014 and 2015, and he returned in glory in 2016. Djokovic ousted Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori and Andy Murray for his second Madrid Masters title.

Novak misplaced to Rafael Nadal in 2017 earlier than lifting his third trophy in 2019 over Dominic Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Djokovic returned to Madrid in 2022 and reached the semi-final. The legend embraced a large battle with the house favourite Carlos Alcaraz. 

Novak Djokovic, Madrid Masters© Stream screenshot

 

They pushed one another to the boundaries earlier than Carlos prevailed 6-7, 7-5, 7-6 after three hours and 37 minutes. The younger gun bounced again after the opener and prevailed over the previous champion after a thriller. The Spaniard dropped serve solely as soon as.

He seized two of ten break alternatives and survived in video games 9 and 11 of the second set. Alcaraz compelled a decider and closed it within the tie break to emerge on the prime a day after beating Rafael Nadal on the identical courtroom.

The Spaniard squandered a 4-2 benefit within the first set. Djokovic erased the deficit within the eighth sport and offered two holds at love for a 5-4 benefit. The house participant saved a set level within the tenth sport for extra drama earlier than Novak claimed the tie break 7-5.

Novak Djokovic, Madrid Masters© Stream screenshot

 

The Serb saved a break level within the sixth sport of the second set and earned a large likelihood to ship in all probability a vital break at 4-4. The extra skilled participant missed a routine forehand at 30-0, squandering a chance to generate three break possibilities.

Alcaraz held at 30 and denied one other break level at 5-5 to stay in competition. The younger gun broke the legend within the twelfth sport, wrapping up the set 7-5 and forcing a decider after over two hours. They saved the very best for final, with the ultimate set lasting an hour and a half! 

Novak Djokovic, Madrid Masters© Stream screenshot

 

Novak labored arduous on serve in video games 4 and 6, denying six break factors and remaining on the constructive aspect. Carlos saved a break level in sport seven and earned a match level on the return at 5-4. Djokovic saved it with a service winner and prolonged the battle. 

The Serb denied a match level in sport ten with a strong serve and locked the consequence at 5-5 after 4 deuces for extra drama. Each gamers served nicely in video games 11 and 12 to rearrange a deciding tie break, the easiest way to find out the winner of a titanic battle!

Madrid Masters© Stream screenshot

 

Carlos moved 4-2 in entrance and landed a strong serve within the eighth level for 5-3 earlier than Novak pulled a mini- break again with a deep return. The Serb missed a forehand within the tenth level and confronted two match factors. 

He saved the primary with a service winner earlier than Alcaraz cracked a forehand down the road winner at 6-5 to notch a notable victory and transfer excessive.