Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the 2026 Monte-Carlo Masters.
Announcing Djokovic’s withdrawal from the Monte-Carlo Masters, tournament organisers said they hope to see him back on court soon.
The Serb’s decision to skip the event was surprising, given he has only missed the Monte-Carlo Masters once before, back in 2011.
Will Novak Djokovic play any events on clay this year?
He could skip clay entirely…
But why did Djokovic withdraw in 2011, and what happened in his absence?
Novak Djokovic withdrew from the 2011 Monte-Carlo Masters with a knee injury
Djokovic announced his withdrawal from the 2011 Monte-Carlo Masters, sharing the following statement.
“It’s a tough blow and sad news,” he said.
“Not only for the tournament and my fans, but also for myself.”
Due to a knee injury, Djokovic was unable to compete in the principality.
Had he been able to compete, Djokovic would have entered the event as one of the favourites, riding a 26-match unbeaten streak.
Novak Djokovic’s unbeaten streak (2010-2011)
| Wins | Event | Players beaten |
| 1-2 | 2010 Davis Cup Finals | Gilles Simon, Gael Monfils |
| 3-9 | 2011 Australian Open | Marcel Granollers, Ivan Dodig, Viktor Troicki, Nicolas Almagro, Tomas Berdych, Roger Federer, Andy Murray |
| 10-14 | 2011 Dubai Tennis Championships | Michael Llodra, Feliciano Lopez, Florian Mayer, Tomas Berdych, Roger Federer |
| 15-20 | 2011 Indian Wells | Andrey Golubev, Ernest Gulbis, Viktor Troicki, Richard Gasquet, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal |
| 21-26 | 2011 Miami Open | Denis Istomin, James Blake, Viktor Troicki, Kevin Anderson, Mardy Fish, Rafael Nadal |
With Djokovic out, all signs pointed towards Spain’s Rafael Nadal picking up his seventh consecutive title.
There were several players eager to upset Nadal, though, including Roger Federer and Andy Murray.
All three players made their way through to the quarter-finals without dropping a set, outlining their title-winning credentials.
It was there, however, that Federer, the second seed, exited the competition.
2011 Monte-Carlo Masters quarter-finals
- [1] Rafael Nadal defeated Ivan Ljubicic, 6-1, 6-3
- [3] Andy Murray defeated [Q] Fred Gil, 6-2, 6-1
- [4] David Ferrer defeated [11] Viktor Troicki, 6-3, 6-3
- [7] Jurgen Melzer defeated [2] Roger Federer, 6-4, 6-4
Austria’s Jurgen Melzer stunned Federer in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.
Even without Federer, fans could still look forward to a strong semi-final line-up, consisting of the top seed Nadal, the third seed Murray, the fourth seed David Ferrer, and the seventh seed, Melzer.
The first semi-final pitted Nadal and Murray against each other.
Unsurprisingly, Nadal took the first set, to move within touching distance of another Monte-Carlo Masters final.
Murray refused to be beaten, though, and won the second, 6-2, to force a decider.
Nadal’s unbeaten run was on the line, as Murray was a set away from becoming the first player to beat him in Monte-Carlo since 2003.
The Spaniard stepped up to the challenge, brushing aside Murray in the third set, 6-1, to secure his spot in the final.
Where he met his countryman, Ferrer, who defeated Melzer, 6-3, 6-2, in the second semi-final.
Nadal was playing his 27th Masters 1000 final, while Ferrer was playing his second.
Unfortunately for Ferrer, the gulf in experience showed…
He played well, but couldn’t quite match Nadal, as he lost in straight sets, 4-6, 5-7.
Nadal retained his title in 2012, but was finally beaten in Monte-Carlo, the year after.
Djokovic became the first man to beat Nadal in Monte-Carlo since Guillermo Coria in 2003, when he won the 2013 final.
Who will take advantage of Novak Djokovic’s absence in 2026?
It was a Spaniard who won the title the last time Djokovic skipped Monte-Carlo, and there’s a good chance history repeats itself in 2026.
World number one Carlos Alcaraz will travel to Europe as the top seed and the favourite to defend his title.
Last year, he won three three-set matches en route to his first title in Monte-Carlo.
Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 Monte-Carlo Masters
- 2R [WIN] vs Francisco Cerundolo, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1
- 3R [WIN] vs Daniel Altmaier, 6-3, 6-1
- QF [WIN] vs Arthur Fils, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
- SF [WIN] vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 7-6, 6-4
- F [WIN] vs Lorenzo Musetti, 3-6, 6-1, 6-0
On all three occasions, he trailed by a set to love.
This year, Alcaraz will have to contend with his main rival, Jannik Sinner, who missed the 2025 Monte-Carlo Masters due to suspension.
Sinner is a former two-time semi-finalist in Monte-Carlo and returned to form at the ‘Sunshine Double’ this year, winning the title in Indian Wells before setting up a final with Jiri Lehecka in Miami.
Only time will tell who will emerge victorious at the 2026 Monte-Carlo Masters, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action when the tournament begins on Monday, April 6.
