Organizers of the Madrid Open tennis tournament announced on Saturday the withdrawal of Serbian player Novak Djokovic from the upcoming tournament set to start next week, joining world number one Rafael Nadal, who is also absent. Djokovic, who was unable to participate in tournaments held on hard courts in the United States earlier this year due to not being vaccinated against COVID-19, prepared for the clay season but was eliminated early from the Monte Carlo Masters and the Srpska Open.
After losing to fellow countryman Dusan Lajovic in the quarter-finals at the Srpska Open in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Djokovic (35 years old) stated, "I didn't feel good on the court; my legs were slow, my movement was lethargic, and I missed many shots and was completely unfocused."
However, the Serbian player expressed that he still hopes to reach his best performance on clay before the French Open next month. The organizers issued a statement wishing him a speedy recovery, stating, "We hope to see you on the courts as soon as possible."
Earlier this week, Nadal announced his absence from the tournament following a setback while recovering from a thigh injury he sustained at the Australian Open in January. The two players share the record for the most Grand Slam titles, each holding 22 titles. The French Open, the second of the four major tournaments, begins on May 28.
