Novak Djokovic won’t play the 2026 Madrid Open.
It was rumoured that he would skip the event, but Djokovic confirmed his withdrawal on Friday.
When do you think Novak Djokovic will return?
He still hasn't played a match on clay this year…
The Madrid Open have now offered their reaction to Djokovic’s withdrawal.
The Madrid Open ‘hope’ to see Novak Djokovic return in the future
Reacting to the news, the Madrid Open released the following statement on X.
“Novak Djokovic, a three-time Madrid Open champion, will not be able to participate in this year’s tournament,” they wrote.
“We hope to see you back here as soon as possible so we can enjoy your tennis as we have done so many times in the Caja Magica.”
The news isn’t all that surprising, as Djokovic recently gave a concerning injury update.
“I hope I can participate. I’m dealing with some physical problems, and I’m not sure yet if I’ll be able to compete, but I’m going to try,” he said.
Unable to recover in time, Djokovic will skip his third consecutive Masters 1000 event, having already missed the Miami Open and Monte Carlo Masters this year.
Djokovic’s decision to skip Monte Carlo and Madrid makes sense when you look at his record at the two events…
Novak Djokovic’s Masters 1000 record
| Masters 1000 | Titles | Win/Loss record | Win % | Latest performance |
| Indian Wells | 5 | 53-12 | 82% | 4R – 2026 |
| Miami Open | 6 | 49-8 | 86% | F – 2025 |
| Monte Carlo Masters | 2 | 39-16 | 71% | 2R – 2025 |
| Madrid Open | 3 | 30-10 | 75% | 2R – 2025 |
| Italian Open | 6 | 68-12 | 85% | 3R – 2024 |
| Canadian Open | 4 | 37-7 | 84% | 3R – 2018 |
| Cincinnati Open | 3 | 45-12 | 79% | W – 2023 |
| Shanghai Masters | 4 | 49-10 | 83% | SF – 2025 |
| Paris Masters | 7 | 50-9 | 85% | W – 2023 |
The first two clay-court Masters 1000 events of the year are statistically his worst at the Masters 1000 level.
At 38, Djokovic is understandably playing a reduced schedule, therefore it doesn’t make sense for him to play events where he has struggled (by his standards).
If he is to play on clay this year, the likelihood is that he will attend the Italian Open before Roland Garros.
Why Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal is bad news for the Madrid Open
Losing a 24-time Grand Slam champion is never going to be good news, but Djokovic’s withdrawal is particularly damaging for the Madrid Open this year.
Why? Well, he might not be the only big name to pull out.
Seven-time major winner and home favourite, Carlos Alcaraz, recently picked up an injury in Barcelona, and it’s unclear whether he will be fit to return in Madrid.
Should Carlos Alcaraz have skipped the Barcelona Open? Did he make a mistake by playing it?
And the world number one, Jannik Sinner, has yet to confirm his attendance.
There is a real chance that the three biggest names in men’s tennis: Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Sinner, all miss the Madrid Open in 2026.
In 2025, Alcaraz (injury) and Sinner (suspension) both missed the event, as Norway’s Casper Ruud lifted the trophy.
Ruud and Jack Draper put on a show in last year’s final, but it wasn’t quite the star-studded event the tournament directors hoped for.
Feliciano Lopez and Garbine Muguruza will now face an anxious wait to see if Alcaraz and Sinner join Djokovic in withdrawing from their event.
Only time will tell who will make the trip to Spain later this month, but it will certainly be something to keep an eye on.
The 2026 Madrid Open begins on Friday, April 24.
