Novak Djokovic will not be playing at the 2024 Madrid Open as he withdrew from the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
The Serbian's 2024 season has been unlike any of his previous seasons, when he got used to dominating the sport, but this year, he knows he will be without a trophy at least until May 19th, which marks his second longest time without a trophy after the start of the season.
That's because he won't be playing at the second ATP Masters 1000 tournament on the clay of the season, since he withdrew from the Madrid Open, which will be held between April 24th and May 5th, 2024 at La Caja Magica.
The 24-time major winner hasn't provided any reason for his withdrawal, but it's probably to focus his preparation on the Roland Garros and preserve his body, as he seemed to be struggling physically during his most recent outing in Monte Carlo.
At the 2024 Monte-Carlo Masters, Djokovic was stunned by Casper Ruud, and he won't get a chance for a revenge in Spain, as he chose not to compete in Madrid, at the tournament he managed to win three times in his career.
As a result of Djokovic's absence, one of his main young rivals, Jannik Sinner, will be the top seed at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament for the first time in his career.
On the other hand, Djokovic's focus will turn to the Italian Open in Rome, which will start on May 8th and run until 19th.
If the 36-year-old withdraws also from the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in the Italian capital, he will enter the French Open, a tournament where he is the defending champion, without playing on clay for over two months.
The Serbian is yet to provide any comment on his withdrawal, but after one of his latest withdrawals, he cited balancing personal and professional life as a reason.