Novak Djokovic Withdraws from Madrid Open Due to Injury
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New Delhi, April 17 (NationPress) The renowned 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has declared his withdrawal from the Madrid Open, scheduled to begin on April 23, due to an injury. Djokovic made the announcement on Friday via a post on X. The Serbian tennis star expressed that he is not in optimal condition and is prioritizing his recovery to return to the court soon.
“Madrid, unfortunately, I will not be able to compete @MutuaMadridOpen this year. I’m focusing on my recovery to return as quickly as possible. 'Hasta pronto!'” Djokovic tweeted.
In their statement, the tournament organizers noted: “Novak Djokovic, a three-time champion of the #MMOPEN, will be unable to participate in this year’s event. We look forward to your return so we can enjoy your incredible tennis at the Caja Magica once again.”
The 39-year-old has been sidelined for the past month. His last match was against Jack Draper in the fourth round of Indian Wells, where he lost with scores of 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5).
Currently ranked World No. 4, Djokovic has only competed in two tournaments this year, finishing as the runner-up at the Australian Open and reaching the round of 16 in Indian Wells. He cited a right shoulder injury as the reason for his recent withdrawal from the Miami Open.
Additionally, Djokovic missed the recently completed Monte Carlo Masters, where Jannik Sinner triumphed over Carlos Alcaraz to win the title for the first time.
As the most accomplished player in the Open Era of tennis with 24 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic has claimed the Madrid Open championship three times throughout his career. He won the ATP Masters 1000 clay-court title in 2011, 2016, and 2019, boasting a favorable record of 30 victories against only ten losses in the history of the Madrid Open.
Djokovic is tentatively scheduled to participate in the Italian Open, another clay court masters event, starting on May 8. However, his involvement will depend on his fitness in the upcoming days.