Novak Djokovic has officially announced he will not compete in the Mutua Madrid Open next week, the next clay-court Masters 1000 event of the season. The 38-year-old Serbian posted on X, stating, “I am continuing my recovery to be back soon. Hasta pronto!” This extends his break from the tour following his defeat to Jack Draper in the fourth round of Indian Wells.
Djokovic was recently spotted in Madrid, attending a Real Madrid Euroleague basketball game alongside Luka Doncic. He had also been training in Marbella but had hinted to journalists about a potential withdrawal from the tournament due to an injury. He has now confirmed his participation is impossible.
This year, Djokovic’s only other tournament appearance was the Australian Open, where he reached the final but was ultimately defeated by Carlos Alcaraz. At this stage of his career, his primary focus is on securing a record 25th Grand Slam title. Therefore, he will be prioritizing his recovery to be in top form for Roland Garros, scheduled from May 18th to June 7th.
The draw for the Madrid Open is set to take place next Monday. While Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are expected to participate, potential withdrawals are not out of the question. Sinner may be feeling the effects of a demanding match schedule, and Alcaraz is still recovering from a wrist injury that previously forced him to withdraw from the Barcelona Open.