Djokovic surprises everyone by announcing his withdrawal from the Rome Masters 1000

Jose Morón | 29 Apr 2025 | 19.38

Djokovic surprises everyone by announcing his withdrawal from the Masters 1000 in Rome. Photo: Getty

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This news has hit us all. Novak Djokovic announced that he will not be part of the Masters 1000 in Rome, which will start next week. The Serb, who had always competed in this tournament since joining the circuit in 2007, is skipping the last Masters before Paris, leaving fans filled with doubts as they haven't quite understood this move by Nole.

Indeed, Djokovic, after his loss in Madrid, mentioned that he hoped to find a better rhythm compared to Monte Carlo, where he had arrived without any expectations. His defeat against Arnaldi must have caused a small earthquake with the first consequence being his withdrawal from the Roman tournament. This event was the last chance for Djokovic to secure victories before Paris, where he has achieved the most success (having won there six times) and where the conditions could better suit his demands.

Consequently, the Serb will arrive at Roland Garros without any victories on clay (0-2), with many doubts looming in his mind. In fact, one could question if Djokovic truly intends to compete in Paris, given that skipping this tournament due to an alarming lack of rhythm and confidence in his game is a puzzling decision. Perhaps, the reasons behind this choice are that he prefers to dedicate more training hours to his body before the Parisian appointment rather than another official match, thinking he is currently not at the level to win matches, especially considering his performances in the two tournaments played on this circuit. Skipping Madrid would have made more sense than Rome, yet after his performance in the Spanish capital, he has chosen a different approach to prepare for the second Grand Slam of the year.

Regarding the rankings, it seems like Nole is almost certain to enter Paris among the top eight seeds, although a series of unexpected outcomes in Madrid and Rome could potentially push him out. Not being part of this group would expose him to significantly tougher opponents from earlier rounds in Roland Garros, a tournament that will demand his utmost physically and in terms of tennis.

The Italian tournament is left without its last great winner, following the departure of Rafa Nadal last year, and with an absence that will be hard to fill. The presence of Sinner will slightly soothe Italian fans, who are also uncertain if Alcaraz will be able to participate. Undoubtedly, the news of Djokovic's absence in the Masters 1000 in Rome has come as a shock to the fans. We will have to wait for future events to see if he will be in Paris or not. Given the circumstances, nothing can be taken for granted anymore.

Novak Djokovic has announced he won't take part in #IBI25.

See you next year, Nole ❤️‍🩹 pic.twitter.com/UfRmUck5kc
— Internazionali BNL d'Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) April 29, 2025