Novak Djokovic’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 Miami Open comes shortly after his unexpected exit from the Indian Wells tournament. Despite being the top seed and a favorite to win, he faced a surprising defeat to lucky loser Luca Nardi in the third round. This withdrawal suggests Djokovic may be focusing on recovery or regrouping for future competitions.
Novak Djokovic’s loss to the World No. 123, Luca Nardi, marked a significant upset in his career, being his first defeat against a lucky loser. Following this unexpected setback, Djokovic expressed uncertainty about his participation in the Miami Open during his press conference at Indian Wells.
“Let’s see, obviously 10 minutes ago I was on the court, so I’m still hot-headed a bit. I need to take a day or two and then see what I want to do next,” he said about his Miami
Open appearance.
The confirmation of Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal from the Miami Open has been announced by Sasa Ozmo, a tennis journalist based in Belgrade, via social media. This decision aligns with Djokovic’s earlier indications of uncertainty regarding his participation following his defeat at Indian Wells.
Novak Djokovic won’t play in Miami.
— Saša Ozmo (@ozmo_sasa) March 14, 2024
Novak Djokovic on his Indian Wells exit: “I really wanted to do well; But wasn’t meant to be”.
The Serb pictured at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells
During his Indian Wells press conference, Novak Djokovic took time to reflect on his unexpected loss to Luca Nardi and his disappointing start to the 2024 season. This defeat was uncharacteristic for Djokovic, prompting him to assess his performance and likely consider adjustments moving forward.
Novak Djokovic’s 2024 season has been marked by participation in three tournaments: the United Cup, the Australian Open, and the Indian Wells Masters. Despite his illustrious career with 24 Grand Slam titles, he has not secured a title this year. With only nine wins against three losses, it’s been a challenging start for the Serb.
Novak Djokovic faced setbacks in both the Melbourne Slam and the United Cup this season. At the Australian Open, he fell to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinals, ending his quest for an 11th title at the tournament. Additionally, his Serbian team failed to progress beyond the quarterfinals in the United Cup, contributing to his challenging start to the year.
“I do play fewer tournaments, so I’m more selective with my schedule. So of course, it’s not great feeling when you, you know, drop out very early in the tournament,” he said in the aforementioned
press conference
Novak Djokovic’s return to Indian Wells after a five-year hiatus was marked by anticipation for a successful campaign in the desert. As a five-time champion of the tournament, he aimed to make a strong comeback and perform well on the courts where he had previously found success.
“And especially here, I haven’t played five years. I really wanted to do well. But wasn’t meant to be. We move on,”
he added.