Novak Djokovic, the current world No. 1 in tennis, won’t be participating in this week’s Madrid Open after failing to secure a spot in the tournament’s main draw, as announced on Monday.
Earlier reports had indicated that the Serbian player would opt out of the Madrid event to focus on his preparations for the upcoming French Open, intending to compete at the Italian Open in Rome instead.
Djokovic, aged 36, last competed at the Monte Carlo Masters, reaching the semifinals before being defeated by Casper Ruud. So far this season, he hasn’t clinched any titles and has only participated in four tournaments.
Although Djokovic has claimed victory at the Madrid Open three times, he has only competed in the tournament once since his last triumph at the Caja Magica in 2019.
Despite not participating in the Madrid Open, Djokovic was spotted in Madrid on Sunday, witnessing Real Madrid’s 3-2 comeback victory over Barcelona in a La Liga showdown at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Moreover, he is scheduled to attend the Laureus Awards in the Spanish capital later on Monday, where he could potentially be honored as the Sportsman of the Year.