Unexpected decision! Djokovic has withdrawn from the Masters in Madrid. Is the world number one clearing the ranks?

His participation in tournaments is becoming very rare. Novak Djokovic surprisingly pulled out of the Masters in Madrid. What is his reason for this and will he even be competition for the players of the upcoming tennis generation?

A lacklustre season

Even last year he was not to be seen at a large number of tournaments. Prior to the French Open, Novak Djokovic only participated in six tennis events. This year, the Serbian tennis player is even more of a rarity.

He has only three appearances at ATP tournaments so far this year. Even more striking is the deterioration of the world number one’s results. In the calendar year 2024 he has not yet played in the final.

He certainly won’t add any success next week at the Masters in Madrid. He has pulled out of this event, which is one of the highlights of the clay court season, at the last minute.

Djokovic and his reasons

The reasons for Djokovic’s absence in the Spanish capital are not medical. It all fits in with his long-term strategy of carefully choosing the tournaments he attends.

This practice contrasts with the thirty-six-year-old tennis player’s earlier approach. Just a year ago, the Serb spoke of wanting to break more and more records.

It is understandable that at an advanced age and given all he has achieved, Djokovic will focus mainly on grand slams. Added to those this year are the Olympics.

But the big question is whether he will be able to compete with the ever-expanding pack of his competitors with a limited number of matches. So far, he is certainly not convincing in this regard.

Marian Vajda, the former coach of the world number one, admits that the ATP calendar is very extensive and players have the opportunity to play around with the choice of their participation in individual tournaments. “If he plays fewer tournaments, he may arrive less prepared than those who have played more,” he says of Djokovic’s pitfalls.

Unless the playing legend of the white sport intends to come in after a month without a competitive match, he is left with one last option. The second week of May sees the last clay Masters in Rome. That’s what Djokovic has planned. For now.

Sources: ATP, X, Tennis 365