MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Top-ranked Novak Djokovic will skip the Miami Open, saying less than a week after a surprise loss at Indian Wells that he needs to balance his “private and professional schedule.”
Djokovic’s announcement Saturday on his social media accounts follows his 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 defeat to unheralded Luca Nardi on Monday in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.
“At this stage of my career, I’m balancing my private and professional schedule. I’m sorry that I won’t experience some of the best and most passionate fans in the world,” Djokovic wrote.
Nardi, who is ranked No. 123, become the lowest-ranked player to beat Djokovic in a Grand Slam or ATP Masters 1000 level event, surpassing No. 122 Kevin Anderson in 2008 in Miami.
The 20-year-old Italian got into the field as a “lucky loser,” which is a player who stumbled on the final hurdle in qualifying but made it into the main draw as a replacement for an injured player who pulled out before the first round.
The 36-year-old Djokovic is a six-time champion in Miami. The hardcourt tournament begins next week.
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
World No. 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic has announced his withdrawal from the Miami Open due to an elbow injury. The Serbian star, who has won the Miami Open six times in his career, made the decision after consulting with his medical team.
Djokovic has been struggling with the injury for several weeks, and it has affected his performance on the court. He recently pulled out of the Indian Wells Masters due to the same issue, and it seems that he has not fully recovered in time for the Miami Open.
In a statement released on his social media channels, Djokovic expressed his disappointment at having to withdraw from the tournament. He said, “I am extremely disappointed to have to withdraw from the Miami Open. I was really looking forward to competing in this prestigious event, but unfortunately my elbow is still not at 100% and I need to take some more time to recover.”
The Miami Open is one of the most important tournaments on the ATP Tour, and Djokovic’s absence will be keenly felt by fans and fellow players alike. The 34-year-old has a strong record at the event, having won it six times in total, including three consecutive titles from 2014 to 2016.
Djokovic’s withdrawal opens up the field for other top players to make their mark at the tournament. Players like Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas will now have a better chance of claiming the title in Djokovic’s absence.
Despite this setback, Djokovic remains optimistic about his chances for the rest of the season. He said, “I will do everything in my power to get back to full fitness as soon as possible and return to the court stronger than ever. Thank you to all my fans for their support and understanding during this difficult time.”
It remains to be seen how long Djokovic will be out of action for, but fans will be hoping to see him back on court soon, competing at the highest level once again. In the meantime, the Miami Open will continue without one of its biggest stars, but there will still be plenty of exciting tennis to look forward to.
