Novak Djokovic shocked the tennis world with his announcement to withdraw from the Rome Open for the first time in his illustrious career. Since debuting at the tournament in 2007, the Serbian star had competed in 18 consecutive editions. However, this year, that streak will end, raising alarm bells among tennis analysts, including former World No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion Jim Courier.
Speaking on Tennis Channel, Courier expressed significant concern about Djokovic’s decision, particularly given its implications for the 24-time Grand Slam winner’s preparation for Roland Garros.
“Has he listed a reason why? That’s troubling, that’s worrying for me as a Novak fan,” Courier remarked. “It’s worrying because that’s the best place to get ready for Roland Garros. The conditions are very similar; it’s back at sea level”.
Courier further highlighted his confusion, noting that if Djokovic intended to skip one of the two key Masters events before the French Open, Madrid would have made more sense to forgo due to its higher altitude.
Novak Djokovic waves to the crowd as he walks off court after his loss to Matteo Arnaldi in the Second Round match during the Madrid Open. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
“If you’re gonna play one between Madrid and Rome, Rome would be the one you’d want to play to get ready for Roland Garros,” he explained. “I don’t like the way it feels in the gut. Definitely concerned. It’s a very strange thing to announce to pull out now, well in advance of it. And we’ll see what it all means when we get to Roland Garros”.
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Djokovic’s quest for Grand Slam supremacy faces challenges
It is widely known that Djokovic’s primary goal is to secure his 25th Grand Slam title, which would make him the sole player in history to reach that milestone, surpassing Margaret Court, who also holds 24 Major titles.
Former British World No. 1 Annabel Croft weighed in on Djokovic’s current struggles, noting that his road to this monumental achievement is becoming increasingly challenging.
“We know that his total focus is on adding to that Grand Slam tally. He wants to become the greatest tennis player in terms of Grand Slam action ever,” Croft said on Sky Sports Tennis. “But it’s getting harder and harder, and actually, I always feel like he’s just gone a bit flat on the court as well. He just can’t find it, he can’t find that winning formula”.
Rivals no longer fear Djokovic
Croft also highlighted a shift in perception among players on the tour. Once considered almost invincible, Djokovic is no longer as feared as he once was, giving his opponents a newfound sense of confidence when facing him.
“Everything is just looking very, very tough and uphill, and I think we mentioned the word aura,” she explained. “A lot of players now walk onto court thinking, ‘Well, I do have a chance against him because he’s not playing great’”.
“In the past, they would have been panicking about whether they were going to get games on the board. And now, I think more and more players of lower rankings start to beat him, and they all feel they have a chance. That makes it doubly difficult for him,” Croft added.
