Novak Djokovic, the world’s top-ranked tennis player, has withdrawn from the Miami Open following his surprising third-round exit at the Indian Wells Masters. The Serbian star, who has not won a title in 2023, will now focus on preparing for the upcoming European clay-court season.
Djokovic’s withdrawal from Miami opens the door for Jannik Sinner to continue his pursuit of the world No. 1 ranking. The Italian, who reached the semifinals at Indian Wells, is a win away from matching his 2023 result in Miami.
Djokovic has not made a statement or confirmed the reports of his withdrawal from Miami. However, Tennis Channel Live’s Steve Weissman said the 36-year-old is “gonna rest up, get ready for the red-clay season.”
Djokovic has a Roland Garros crown to defend this year, while Sinner’s best clay-court showing was a semifinal appearance at Monte Carlo. The Italian will be looking to make a strong statement in Miami and challenge Djokovic’s dominance on the clay.
Djokovic’s withdrawal from Miami is a significant development in the race for the world No. 1 ranking. Sinner, who is currently ranked No. 14, has a chance to close the gap on Djokovic and potentially overtake him in the coming months.
The Miami Open is one of the most prestigious hard-court events on the ATP Tour. Djokovic has won 11 total titles between Indian Wells and Miami, but has not won either of the two events since 2016.
Djokovic’s early exit from Indian Wells was a major upset. The Serbian had not lost to a player ranked outside the top 100 since 2018. However, Nardi, who entered the tournament as a lucky loser, played a brilliant match and defeated Djokovic in straight sets.
Djokovic will now have some time to rest and regroup before the start of the clay-court season. The Serbian is the defending champion at Roland Garros and will be looking to extend his record-breaking Grand Slam tally to 23.
