Novak Djokovic’s fans were left heartbroken after confirming he will miss the Madrid Open due to his injury.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion has played just two tournaments this year – the Australian Open and the Indiana Wells – which raised questions about his health ahead of the French Open, which starts in Paris in about a month.
The Spanish basketball player is still working through the injury problems that forced him to miss the recent tournaments in Miami and Monte Carlo and said Friday he will not perform at next week’s Madrid Open, one of the final stops before the French Open.
“Madrid, unfortunately I cannot participate this year. I will continue my recovery to be back soon,” Djokovic, who was struggling with a shoulder problem, wrote in a message on X.
The 38-year-old Serbian lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final in February and fell to Jack Draper in the fourth round of Indian Wells last month before withdrawing from the Miami Open due to a right shoulder injury.
Struggling with the injury, he told Spanish broadcaster Movistar+ during a EuroLeague basketball match in Madrid on Thursday that he was “struggling a little bit physically with an injury” while also being hopeful about his participation in the tournament.
As informed, Djokovic lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final in February and withdrew from the Doha Open later that month due to fatigue.
He was also defeated by Jack Draper in the fourth round of Indian Wells in March before skipping the Miami Open the same month due to a right shoulder injury.
The former world number 1 then skipped last week’s Monte Carlo Masters before arriving in Spain to begin preparations for the Madrid Open from April 22 to May 3.
In particular, the draw for the Madrid Open, where Djokovic is a three-time champion, will take place on Monday.
In addition, Djokovic will next compete at the Italian Open (May 6 to May 17) in Rome before attempting to win a record 25th Grand Slam title at the French Open, which starts on May 24.
