The Serbian tennis player confirmed this Friday his withdrawal from the Mutua Madrid Open, as he has not yet recovered from the injury that previously kept him from competing in Miami and Monte Carlo.
Novak Djokovic withdraws from the Madrid Open: What we know about the tennis star’s injury
The Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic confirmed this Friday that he will not play in the Mutua Madrid Open, as he has not yet fully recovered from the shoulder injury that previously prevented him from playing in Miami and Monte Carlo. “Madrid, unfortunately, I won’t be able to compete this year. I am continuing my recovery in order to be back soon. Hasta pronto!” the Serb wrote on his social media channels.
Thursday, speaking to Movistar Plus+ during the EuroLeague basketball match between Real Madrid and Red Star Belgrade, Djokovic expressed doubts regarding whether he would be able to compete next week in Madrid: “I don’t know if I’ll play; I’m not sure. I’m still dealing with an injury, so I’m trying to manage it in order to play as much as I can.” These doubts were dispelled by ‘Nole’ himself this Friday, when he confirmed his withdrawal.
Shortly after the Serb’s announcement, the Mutua Madrid Open itself expressed its regret over Djokovic’s absence from the tournament: “Novak Djokovic, a three-time champion of the Mutua Madrid Open, will be unable to participate in this edition of the tournament. We hope to see you back as soon as possible so that we may enjoy your tennis, just as we have done so many times at the Caja Mágica.”
Thus, Djokovic—Madrid Open champion in 2011, 2016, and 2019— has withdrawn from the Madrid tournament for the third time in four years, having also sat out the 2023 and 2024 editions. Djokovic *did* compete in 2025, though the Serb made an early exit after falling to Matteo Arnaldi in his opening match.
Djokovic’s absence represents a major setback for the Mutua Madrid Open, which now sees one of tennis’s biggest stars unable to compete in the tournament, all while awaiting updates regarding Carlos Alcaraz following his injury-forced withdrawal from the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. For now, fans will have to wait until 2027 to witness what could be Djokovic’s “last dance” in Madrid.
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.