Madrid: World number one and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic will not play at the Madrid Open this week, but he hopes to perform in Rome.
Media reports said the 36-year-old Serbian star had withdrawn from the tournament in the Spanish capital and was not involved in Monday’s match.
Djokovic has yet to win a title this season and has decided to lighten his schedule, playing only four tournaments this year.
After being named world sportsperson of the year for the fifth time at the Laureus Awards in Madrid on Monday, Djokovic said he was targeting the Italian Open before defending his title at the French Open from May 26.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to play in Madrid this year … I plan to play in Rome, so if I prepare well, I hope I can do it,” Djokovic told reporters.
“This year is a bit different for me, I still haven’t found my best tennis and I hope to be at Roland Garros.”
Djokovic has now exited the Madrid Open three times in four years.
The Serbian is a three-time champion in the fortnightly clay court event in the Spanish capital.
His second Masters 1000 came out this year after missing the Miami Open in March.
Veteran tennis great Rafael Nadal will continue his comeback from injury in Madrid and will face 16-year-old American Darwin Blanc in the first round.
Nadal, 37, played at the Barcelona Open but lost in straight sets to Alex de Minaur in the second round.
If the teenager beats Blanch, he will face Australian No. 11 De Minaur for the second week in a row.
Defending champion and second seed Carlos Alcaraz said he was looking forward to playing in Madrid after a wrist problem and will face either Alexander Shevchenko or Artur Rinderknecht in the second round.
World number two and, in Djokovic’s absence, top seed Jannik Sinner will face fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the second round or qualifier.
