Novak Djokovic out of Madrid Open due to injury, sparks French Open fears

Novak Djokovic has announced his withdrawal from the Madrid Open due to ongoing injury concerns, raising apprehensions about his participation in the upcoming French Open.

In Short

• Novak Djokovic withdraws from Madrid Open due to shoulder injury
• He aims to recover fully before the French Open in late May
• Djokovic has played only two tournaments in 2026 so far

Former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Madrid Open, raising fresh concerns over his fitness ahead of the French Open next month. The 38-year-old confirmed on Friday that he will not feature in the Spanish capital as he continues to recover from a lingering shoulder issue that has disrupted his season. "Madrid, unfortunately, I won't be able to compete this year. I'm continuing my recovery to be back soon," Djokovic wrote on X.

Djokovic's absence from one of the key clay-court tune-ups comes at a crucial time in the build-up to Roland Garros, where he will be chasing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title. His limited match time this season has only added to the uncertainty. The Serbian great has played just two tournaments in 2026 so far, finishing runner-up at the Australian Open in February before a fourth-round exit at Indian Wells in March.

His fitness troubles have forced him to pull out of multiple events, including the Miami Open and the Monte Carlo Masters, significantly reducing his time on clay heading into the Paris major.

Djokovic had initially hinted at a possible appearance in Madrid. Speaking to Spanish broadcaster Movistar+ during a EuroLeague basketball game in the city earlier this week, he admitted he was "struggling physically a little bit with an injury" but remained hopeful of competing. That optimism has now given way to caution as he prioritises recovery.

His most recent outing saw him fall to Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final, followed by a defeat to Jack Draper in Indian Wells. Since then, recurring discomfort in his right shoulder has kept him off the tour.

Djokovic is now expected to return at the Italian Open in Rome from May 6, which could serve as his only competitive preparation on clay before the French Open begins on May 24.

With time running out and questions mounting over his physical condition, Djokovic's race to regain full fitness has become one of the defining subplots ahead of Roland Garros.

- Ends