Serbian Djokovic, who is suffering from a shoulder problem, will not take part in the clay-court tournament in Madrid, Spain.
Published on 17 April 2026
Former tennis world No. 1 Novak Djokovic is still battling injury problems that have caused him to miss recent tournaments and he said on Friday that he will not participate in next week’s Madrid Open, one of the last stops before the French Open.
The 38-year-old has played only two tournaments this year, the Australian Open in February and Indian Wells in March, raising concerns over his fitness ahead of the French Open starting in Paris about a month later.
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“Unfortunately, I will not be able to compete in Madrid this year. I am continuing my recovery to return soon,” Djokovic, who is suffering from a shoulder problem, wrote in a letter. Post On X.
The Serb told Spanish broadcaster Movistar+ at a EuroLeague basketball game in the Spanish capital on Thursday that he was “physically struggling a bit with the injury” but hoped to play in the tournament.
Djokovic, now ranked fourth in the ATP rankings, lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final in February and withdrew from the Doha Open later that month due to fatigue.
He lost to Jack Draper in the fourth round of Indian Wells in March before leaving the Miami Open that same month due to a right shoulder injury.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion skipped last week’s Monte Carlo Masters before arriving in Spain to begin preparations for the April 22-May 3 Madrid Open.
The draw for the Madrid Open – where Djokovic is a three-time champion – will be made on Monday.
Djokovic is scheduled to compete at the Italian Open May 6-17 in Rome, before bidding for a record 25th Grand Slam title at the French Open starting May 24.
