Novak Djokovic has officially withdrawn from the upcoming Italian Open. The world No. 5 is currently on a five-match losing streak, with his latest defeat coming at the Madrid Open on Saturday, and has yet to notch a victory on the clay this season. But he will not head to Rome to try and turn things around next week.
Tournament organisers announced the news of his withdrawal on Tuesday. Djokovic had a disappointing outing at the Italian Open last year, winning just one match before crashing out of the tournament. Following his early exit in Madrid over the weekend, the Serb said he had to accept his “new reality”.
Italian Open organisers took to social media to confirm that Djokovic would not be playing. “Novak Djokovic has announced he won’t take part to #IBI25. See you next year, Nole,” they wrote.
A six-time champion in Rome, this will be the first time Djokovic misses the tournament since making his debut in 2007.
The world No. 5 also cast doubts over his Madrid Open future after losing to Matteo Arnaldi on Saturday, admitting it may have been his last appearance at the tournament.
“I’m not sure if I will come back. So, I don’t know, I don’t know what to say. I mean, I’ll come back, maybe not as a player, of course. I hope it’s not, but it could be [my last appearance],” he said.
Djokovic has now lost his opening match in four of his last five tournaments. The 37-year-old previously made it clear that his goal for the clay swing was to win the French Open.
But he has not won on the surface so far in 2025 and by pulling out of the Italian Open, he is running out of chances to get matches under his belt before the Parisian Grand Slam tournament begins.
There are two tournaments in the week before the French Open – an ATP 250 in Geneva and an ATP 500 in Hamburg. Last year, Djokovic took a late wildcard into Geneva following his third-round exit in Rome, and he could do the same again.
For now, the world No. 5 has adjusted his expectations and admitted that he won’t be the favourite going into Roland Garros despite being a three-time former champion.
“I’m not going into Roland Garros as one of the main favourites. Maybe that can help, I don’t know, we’ll see,” he admitted.
The former world No. 1 was also candid about his track record at recent events, adding: “Kind of a new reality for me, I have to say.
“You know, trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament.
“It’s a completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years of professional tennis, so it’s kind of a challenge for me mentally to really face these kind of sensations on the court, going out early now regularly in the tournaments.”