ROME — In a surprising turn of events, Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Italian Open on Tuesday, facing a tough patch marked by three consecutive losses. This situation raises questions about his readiness for the upcoming French Open, where he aims to capture a historic 25th Grand Slam title and his 100th overall tournament victory.
The clay-court event in Rome, set to take place next month, officially announced Djokovic’s exit on social media, bidding him farewell with the message: “See you next year, Nole,” a nod to the beloved nickname of the 37-year-old Serbian icon.
Djokovic’s season has been rocky, with a 12-6 win-loss record and a worrying trend of three straight defeats at the Miami Open, Monte Carlo Masters, and most recently, the Madrid Open.
After succumbing to Matteo Arnaldi with scores of 6-3, 6-4 in Spain, Djokovic shared, “I’m experiencing a completely different feeling than what I’ve known in over 20 years of professional tennis. It’s mentally challenging to confront these new emotions on the court, especially facing early exits in tournaments.”
Although he has spent more weeks as the world No. 1 than any other player, Djokovic currently stands at No. 5 in the rankings. His sole triumph in 2024 or 2025 was securing the gold medal by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the final at the Paris Olympics last August.
Despite the setbacks, Djokovic has consistently emphasized his desire to add more major titles to his illustrious career. The next chance for him arises at the French Open, commencing on May 25.
It’s worth noting that Djokovic withdrew from last year’s Roland Garros due to a knee injury that required surgery, and earlier this January, he also had to exit the Australian Open due to a torn hamstring.
