Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Italian opening in Rome. Rome is scheduled to start next week.
World No 5 came on Saturday when he lost to World No 44 Matteo Arnald in the second round, losing to five consecutive wins, with Serbia still hoping for the first victory of the clay court season.
Last year, Djokovic ran a disappointing campaign at the Internazionali Bnl D’Italia, winning one match before crashing from the tournament, but since his debut in the Rome tournament in 2007, he has competed every year, earning a 68-12 record, including six titles.
“I don’t think that’s a big surprise in the sense that they’ve looked overly happy on the tennis court in the last few tournaments,” said British tennis coach Jamie Delgado.
“His goal is clearly French openness and he sees the best way to prepare himself.
“It’s a big decision, especially in Clay, as he wasn’t playing a game he wanted to enter the French Open, but it’s part of a give-and-take — taking a little break and washing his brain out for the big ones, but he goes that option clearly.”
For more accessible video players, use the Chrome browser
Highlights of Djokovic’s match against Matteo Arnald in the second round of the Madrid Open
After losing to Arnardo 6-3 6-4 in Spain, Djokovic said:
“It’s a challenge for me to actually face these kinds of sensations mentally and go out early on a regular basis at tournaments.”
Djokovic ranks number one over any other tennis player, but is currently sitting at number five.
The only title Serbia won in 2024 or 2025 was the gold medal he claimed to defeat Carlos Al-Caraz in the final of the Parisio Games in August.
Djokovic also retired during the Australian opening this January after his hamstring muscle was torn apart.
ATP and WTA tours, as well as the US Open in New York, perform live at Sky Sports in 2025 or watch the stream alongside the Sky Sports app, allowing Sky Sports customers to access over 50% live sports this year at no extra charge. For more information, please click here.
