Novak Djokovic’s Miami Open Withdrawal is Cause for Concern, Says Ex-ATP Pro

World No. 3 Novak Djokovic lost to Jakub Mensik in the 2025 Miami Open final.

Novak Djokovic’s Miami Open Withdrawal is Cause for Concern, Says Ex-ATP Pro

Novak Djokovic (Image via X/Wolfy)

In Short
  • Novak Djokovic's withdrawal from the Miami Open will result in a loss of 650 ranking points and drop him to fourth place.
  • His absence raises concerns about facing top players like Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner earlier in Grand Slam events.
  • Martina Navratilova emphasizes the need for Djokovic to gain more match practice ahead of major tournaments.

Because Novak Djokovic won’t be playing the Miami Open, 650 points will be deducted from his rankings as he was the runner-up last year. Youngster Jakub Mensik defeated the veteran after two tough straight sets in 2025.

Because of his withdrawal, he has already left the top 3 in the live rankings. At present, he stands in fourth place with 4720 ranking points and could end up dropping out of the top 4 due to his fellow players’ performances.

And for the same reason, former ATP pro Steve Johnson, appearing on Nothing Major podcast, warned the Serb that the ramifications of his withdrawal could see him face Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner earlier than expected in Grand Slam events.

I mean, that’s irrelevant to him. So if he misses a tournament, since he’s going to miss Miami, he’s not going to be three in the world. Like the only thing that might hurt him is at the French or Wimbledon, he could be seven or eight and have to play Sinner or Carlos in the quarters instead.

Djokovic withdrew due to a shoulder niggle that also troubled him during his Indian Wells campaign. The 38-year-old lost to defending champion Jack Draper in the quarterfinals in the California desert.

After the Sunshine Doubles, the tennis world will be shifting its focus to the European clay swing. Johnson is wondering where Djokovic will play prior to his French Open campaign.

And if there’s anybody that knows Novak better than Novak, like, let me know because Novak is in charge of everything in his world, and he is damn good at it. So I don’t know when we’ll see him next cause I don’t see the French being his Slam to win, right? Like, I don’t see him playing Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome, and then the French, but I don’t know.

Last year, the three-time French Open champion featured at the Monte Carlo Masters, Madrid Open, and the Geneva Open. He suffered an opening-round exit in the two Masters 1000s but won the ATP 250 event by defeating Hubert Hurkacz. Later at the French Open, Djokovic lost to eventual runner-up Sinner in the semifinals.

Martina Navratilova thinks Novak Djokovic needs match practice before big events

At this stage of his career, Djokovic is not paying much heed to the rankings. His major goal is to win his 25th Grand Slam title, which has eluded him since 2024. Although he is performing well in the Majors despite skipping tournaments, Martina Navratilova thinks he needs more match practice to prepare well for the big tournaments.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/#AusOpen)

I think he needs to have more matches before the big ones. I think he has pulled back so much that even though he is as solid as he is, I think he needs a bit more match play to put yourself out there, but he knows better than me.

Marta Navratilova said on Sky Sports

This year at the Australian Open, Djokovic shocked the tennis world by registering a five-set win over two-time defending champion Sinner in the semifinals. The win helped him snap his five-match losing streak against the four-time Grand Slam champion. But he failed to repeat the same result in the final against Alcaraz, losing in four sets, and this made the Spaniard the sixth man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam.

The last time Djokovic won a title was in the first edition of the Hellenic Championship last year by defeating Lorenzo Musetti. Last year, he reached the semifinals of four Majors and won two ATP 250 titles (in Geneva and Athens). He has yet to win a Big Title since clinching his career’s first Olympic gold medal by defeating Alcaraz in Paris in 2024.

Also read: Daniil Medvedev Sends Clear Message on his Level Compared to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz