As of March 14, 2024, it has been reported by Christopher Clarey and Sasa Ozmo that Novak Djokovic will be skipping the Miami Open following his unexpected early departure from Indian Wells. The Serbian tennis star, who currently holds a season record of 8-3, has yet to confirm these reports or issue an official statement regarding his decision to withdraw.
Djokovic’s choice to forego the Miami Open comes in the wake of his surprising third-round defeat by 123rd-ranked Luca Nardi at Indian Wells. Despite this setback, the world No. 1 remains steadfast in his preparations for the upcoming European clay-court season.
His absence from the Miami Open also raises questions about his potential involvement in the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, a decision that aligns with Rafael Nadal’s cautious withdrawal from the tournament due to injury.
Notably, Djokovic has enjoyed significant success at the Miami Open, capturing his first of 40 Masters 1000 titles at the tournament in 2007. However, his performance in recent years has not matched these previous achievements, as he has failed to clinch victory in either Indian Wells or Miami since 2016.
By choosing to sit out the Miami Open, Djokovic’s decision opens opportunities for other players to leave their mark on the tour. Jannik Sinner is one such player seeking to challenge Djokovic for the world No. 1 ranking this spring. Sinner, renowned for his skill on clay courts, now has the chance to further fortify his position in the rankings with Djokovic’s absence from the Miami Open.
As events continue to unfold, it remains to be seen what impact Djokovic’s withdrawal will have on the forthcoming clay-court season and his endeavour to defend his Roland Garros title.
We will provide further updates as this story develops.