Novak Djokovic withdraws from Italian Open after losing three matches in a row

Novak Djokovic will not be seen in action at the Italian Open as the former world no 1’s withdrawal from the event was announced on Tuesday. With the French Open approaching, the Serbian is hoping to contain his slump in form that has now seen him lose three games in a row. The three defeats include his loss in the final of the Miami Open to Jakub Mensik in straight sets, the Monte Carlos Masters loss — again in straight sets — to Alejandro Tabilo and finally the first round loss to world no 44 Matteo Arnaldi in Madrid.

The 37-year-old is chasing his 100th career title. But he has not won a title on the ATP tour since the 2023 season-ending championships. His only triumph in 2024 came at the Paris Olympics. At the French Open, the Serb is looking to win his record-extending 25th Major.

The current world no 5 was forced to withdraw mid-way through the year’s first grand slam, the Australian Open, because of a torn hamstring muscle. At last year’s French Open too, he had to exit mid-way after a knee injury that required surgery.

The clay-court event in Rome, which is one of the tune-up events for players on the road to Roland Garros, announced via their social media handle that Djokovic will not be competing this year. The Italian Open’s X handle wrote: “See you next year, Nole.”

After the defeat to Arnaldi, Djokovic had spoken of a “new reality” for him.

"Kind of a new reality for me, I have to say. Trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament,” Djokovic said. “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 sensations on the court, going out early now regularly in the tournaments. But that’s, I guess, the circle of life and the career, eventually it was going to happen. Now I’m trying to use this as a driving force for the future.”

When asked after the opening round defeat at Madrid if it was the final time playing there, Djokovic replied: "It could be. It could be. 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."

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