World No. 5 Novak Djokovic confirms tough decision ahead of Rome Open

The 2025 season has been far from ideal for Novak Djokovic. He has delivered disappointing performances in most of the tournaments he’s competed in this year, the most recent setback being an early exit at the Madrid Masters 1000 against Matteo Arnaldi. In this context, the current World No. 5 has made a significant decision ahead of the Rome Open.

On Tuesday, the official account of the Italian tournament on X (Internazionali BNL d’Italia) announced that Djokovic has decided not to participate in this year’s event. While no official explanation has been given, it is widely speculated that the decision is related to his physical condition.

Following his loss to Arnaldi in the round of 64 at the Madrid Open last Saturday, the Serbian star still had more than 10 days before his expected debut in Rome, as the tournament is set to begin on May 6. However, the choice to withdraw well in advance indicates that Novak determined he would not be in optimal shape to compete.

His next target this season is one of the calendar’s premier events: Roland Garros, which begins on May 25. That gives Djokovic nearly a month to prepare and return to peak physical and competitive form.

Novak Djokovic celebrates victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2022 Rome Open.

Djokovic’s first absence from Rome

Novak Djokovic made his debut at the Rome Open in 2007 and, from that point on, maintained an impressive streak of 18 consecutive appearances through 2024. This year’s absence marks the first time the Serbian star will miss the tournament in the Italian capital.

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Djokovic has an outstanding record at the Rome Masters 1000. Across his 18 appearances, he reached the final 12 times. He lifted the trophy on six occasions—in 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2020, and 2022—making him the second-most successful player in the tournament’s history, trailing only Rafael Nadal, who has 10 titles.

What will happen with Alcaraz in Rome?

With Novak Djokovic officially out of the Rome Open, attention now turns to whether Carlos Alcaraz will be able to compete in the tournament or if, as happened in 2024, he will miss out due to injury concerns.

Alcaraz announced last week that he would miss the Madrid Open, explaining that his top priority was to fully recover from the adductor injury he suffered in Barcelona. “My mindset is to do everything it takes to be a hundred percent for Rome,” said Carlos.

“My hope is to play in Rome. If not, next tournament is Roland Garros for me,” Carlos assured, making it clear that the French Open is his main goal. “A Grand Slam is a Grand Slam. If I play here (in Madrid), I could make the injuries worse and stop for several months and that’s not worth it.”