Novak Djokovic has cast doubt on his participation in the Madrid Open, citing ongoing physical issues despite recent practice sessions. The world No. 4 contradicted earlier reports suggesting his confirmed entry for the clay-court Masters 1000 event. Tournament co-director Feliciano Lopez remains optimistic about his potential appearance.
Novak Djokovic, sidelined by a right shoulder injury since Indian Wells, skipped the Miami Open and Monte Carlo Masters. He was spotted practicing on clay courts in Marbella this week, fueling speculation about a return at the Madrid Open, set for April 22 to May 3 at La Caja Mágica. A French journalist had claimed the 24-time Grand Slam champion confirmed his entry, but Djokovic addressed this directly on Thursday at Movistar Arena in Madrid. “I hope I can participate. I’m dealing with some physical problems, and I’m not sure yet if I’ll be able to compete, but I’m going to try,” he said. The injury traces back to Indian Wells, where Djokovic wore a compression sleeve on his forearm and lost a three-setter to Jack Draper in the round of 16. Ranked No. 4, he would receive a first-round bye if he plays, and Madrid is a tournament he has won three times. Feliciano Lopez, the tournament co-director, expressed hope for Djokovic's involvement. “He’s keen to come to Madrid... We have to be cautious, but if everything goes well, we’ll have Djokovic in Madrid too,” Lopez said. With his 39th birthday approaching next month, Djokovic is prioritizing recovery and major events like Roland Garros over a full schedule. Organizers face uncertainty not just with Djokovic but also Carlos Alcaraz, who withdrew from Barcelona with an arm injury, and Jannik Sinner, who has yet to confirm.