Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next month’s Monte-Carlo Masters.
The Serb will skip the event for the first time in 15 years (event not held in 2020).
“Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the tournament. We send him our best wishes and hope to see him back on court very soon,” said the event’s official Instagram account.
Will Novak Djokovic play any events on clay this year?
He could skip clay entirely…
Having now missed back-to-back Masters 1000 events, the Miami Open and the Monte-Carlo Masters, when can fans expect to see Djokovic return?
Novak Djokovic is likely to return to tennis at the Italian Open
If Djokovic is skipping Monte-Carlo, the chances are that he will skip Madrid too.
The Serb has struggled at both events over recent years.
Novak Djokovic in Monte-Carlo and Madrid since 2021
- 2021 Monte-Carlo Masters – Lost in 3R to Dan Evans
- 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters – Lost in 2R to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
- 2022 Madrid Open – Lost in SF to Carlos Alcaraz
- 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters – Lost in 3R to Lorenzo Musetti
- 2024 Monte-Carlo Masters – Lost in SF to Casper Ruud
- 2025 Monte-Carlo Masters – Lost in 2R to Alejandro Tabilo
- 2025 Madrid Open – Lost in 2R to Matteo Arnaldi
He was particularly poor in 2025, failing to win a match at either event.
In fact, the Monte-Carlo Masters and the Madrid Open are statistically Djokovic’s worst two Masters 1000 tournaments.
Novak Djokovic’s record at Masters 1000 tournaments
| Tournament | Surface | Titles | Latest performance | Win/Loss record | Win % |
| Indian Wells | Hard | 5 | Fourth round – 2026 | 53-12 | 82% |
| Miami Open | Hard | 6 | Finalist – 2025 | 49-8 | 86% |
| Monte-Carlo Masters | Clay | 2 | Second round – 2025 | 39-16 | 71% |
| Madrid Open | Clay | 3 | Second round – 2025 | 30-10 | 75% |
| Italian Open | Clay | 6 | Third round – 2024 | 68-12 | 85% |
| Canadian Open | Hard | 4 | Third round – 2018 | 37-7 | 84% |
| Cincinnati Open | Hard | 3 | Winner – 2023 | 45-12 | 79% |
| Shanghai Masters | Hard | 4 | Semifinalist – 2025 | 49-10 | 83% |
| Paris Masters | Hard (indoor) | 7 | Winner – 2023 | 50-9 | 85% |
Therefore, it’s more likely that we will see him return in Rome, an event he’s excelled at throughout his career.
Before his shock third-round defeat to Alejandro Tabilo two years ago, Djokovic had never failed to reach the quarterfinals of the Italian Open.
And on six occasions, Djokovic lifted the trophy.
Novak Djokovic’s Italian Open wins
- 1. 2008 – Defeated Stan Wawrinka in the final
- 2. 2011 – Defeated Rafael Nadal in the final
- 3. 2014 – Defeated Rafael Nadal in the final
- 4. 2015 – Defeated Roger Federer in the final
- 5. 2020 – Defeated Diego Schwartzman in the final
- 6. 2022 – Defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final
Djokovic certainly knows how to play his best tennis on the Italian clay!
If he chooses to play Rome this year, then the likelihood is that he will also attend the French Open.
Taking on high-level opposition two weeks out from a Grand Slam event might be just what Djokovic needs to warm up on clay.
However, there is a chance that Djokovic may choose to skip the entire clay-court season…
Novak Djokovic may skip the entire clay season and return on grass
When Djokovic lost to Jannik Sinner in the semifinals of last year’s French Open, he waved goodbye to the crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier.
After the match, Djokovic refused to commit to a return in 2026.
“This could have been the last match ever I played here, I don’t know. That’s why it was a bit more emotional at the end,” said Djokovic.
“But if this was the farewell match of Roland Garros for me in my career, it was a wonderful one in terms of the atmosphere and what I got from the crowd.”
The general belief is that of the four Grand Slams, Djokovic is least likely to win number 25 in Paris.
His rivals, Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, look to be almost untouchable on the clay, as they proved with their classic in last year’s final.
If Djokovic is to get his hands on the elusive 25th Grand Slam, many think Wimbledon is his best chance.
There is an argument to suggest that to maximise his chances, the Serb shouldn’t play on clay, and instead spend time training on grass ahead of a trip to the All-England Club.
Only time will tell if Djokovic will prioritise Wimbledon over the French Open, but it will certainly be something to keep an eye on over the coming months.
But, until we hear otherwise, Djokovic is scheduled to appear at the Madrid Open on clay, which begins on April 21.