World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has decided not to participate in this week's Madrid Open after being excluded from the main draw of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament. Reports indicated that the Serbian tennis star will focus on his preparations for the upcoming French Open by competing in the Italian Open in Rome.
Djokovic, aged 36, most recently competed at the Monte Carlo Masters earlier this month, where he reached the semifinals but was defeated by Casper Ruud. Despite his strong performances, Djokovic has yet to secure a title this season and has only participated in four tournaments so far.
Having previously claimed victory at the Madrid Open three times, Djokovic's absence from this year's event is notable. Since his last triumph at the Caja Magica in 2019, he has only played in the tournament once. Djokovic was present in Madrid on Sunday to witness Real Madrid's thrilling 3-2 victory over Barcelona in a LaLiga match at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Furthermore, Djokovic is scheduled to attend the prestigious Laureus Awards in the Spanish capital later today. There, he may potentially be honored as the Sportsman of the Year, further highlighting his significant contributions to the world of tennis and sports in general.
