“I’m still puzzled,” Jim Courier questions Novak Djokovic’s major decision he took before French Open

Novak Djokovic's hunt for his first 100th ATP title title continues after the Serb was defeated in his first round of the Madrid Open.

“I’m still puzzled,” Jim Courier questions Novak Djokovic’s major decision he took before French Open

Jim Courier, Novak Djokovic (Images via Daily Express, X/The Tennis Letter)

Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the Italian and won’t be playing the third clay-court Masters 1000 of the season for the first time since 2007. This decision surprised former player Jim Courier.

Djokovic has reached just one final this season: the Miami Open, which he lost to Jakub Mensik who became an ATP singles champion for the first time in his career. It was his second final since winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics last year, following the Shanghai Masters which he lost to World No.1 Jannik Sinner.

This season, Djokovic lost three consecutive matches for the second time. After retiring mid-match at the Australian Open semifinals, Djokovic was defeated in his opening rounds of the Qatar Open and the Indian Wells. As he withdrew from the Italian Open, he will be entering the French Open without enough match practice on the clay, the surface where he achieved the least success in his career as compared to the hard and grass-court tournaments.

But best of five format, probably gives that cushion for Novak to work his way through a draw and into the round of 16 if he’s healthy. He seems healthy, just oddly not playing in Rome, and I am still puzzled by that. I just don’t really understand it.

Jim Courier said on the Tennis Channel Live Podcast

Last year in Rome, the 24-time Grand Slam champion lost to Alejandro Tabilo in the third round. He last lifted the title in 2022 by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Rennae Stubbs expresses concern for Novak Djokovic amid massive dip in form

Novak Djokovic, who will turn 38 this month has reached the twilight of his career. Forget about trophies, he is struggling to win even his early-round matches.

Novak Djokovic Monte Carlo Masters 2025
Novak Djokovic (via X/We Love Tennis)

Still, the Serb is backed to win certain tournaments where has performed well previously such as Wimbledon, where, despite a mediocre season, he reached the final last year, for the fourth consecutive time. He once again lost the title to Carlos Alcaraz who became a two-time champion at SW19.

Amidst his subpar performances this season, Serena Williams‘ former coach Rennae Stubbs said that even the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion wanted to win more Majors, and even though she couldn’t, it did not impact her legacy. Stubbs compared Williams’ situation with Djokovic’s and thinks the Belgrade native will call time on his career after winning one more Major.

Novak now is sitting in that same spot, and I think the only thing that drives him is maybe winning one more and I could see him literally doing a Pete Sampras and dropping the mic and being like, ‘I’m done’.

Rennae Stubbs said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast

Stubbs too thinks Djokovic will try to win his 25th Major title at Wimbledon. Djokovic so far has clinched seven titles in the tournament, last winning in 2022.

Novak Djokovic dropped to the sixth position in the rankings table

The Madrid Open saw a new champion on Sunday (May 4). Casper Ruud clinched his first Masters 1000 title in the tournament, becoming the first player from Norway to win a title in this category.

Jack Draper, Casper Ruud
Jack Draper, Casper Ruud (Image via X/Game, Set & Talk)

He beat Jack Draper in three sets in the final. While Ruud climbed back to the top 10 after his win, Draper’s rankings improved too as the Brit toppled Novak Djokovic to become the newest World No.5. The 23-year-old had lifted the biggest title of his career this year when he became the Indian Wells champion.

For Ruud, it was his first title since the Geneva Open last year. He had come close to ending his trophy drought when he reached the Dallas Open in February but lost the title to Denis Shapovalov.

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