Tennis world saddened after Novak Djokovic goes public with shock announcement
Novak Djokovic has stunned the tennis world after announcing he won't play the Italian Open next month, despite a horror run on clay so far this season. The 24-time grand slam champion has lost in the first round in Monte Carlo and Madrid, and will be desperate to turn things around before the French Open.
But he'll skip a key lead-up event to the grand slam and won't play in Rome. Tournament organisers announced on social media on Tuesday (local time): "Novak Djokovic has announced he won't take part to IBI25."
No explanation was offered as to why the World No.5 won't be playing, but many have suggested it could be a boycott of sorts. The Italian Open will be the first tournament that World No.1 Jannik Sinner plays after his three-month suspension.
Many found it very interesting that the ATP and ITF lined Sinner's suspension up with a return in front of his home fans in Rome, after he was banned for three months for testing positive to a banned steroid. The Djokovic-led Professional Tennis Players Association publicly criticised the lenient punishment in February, saying: "The 'system' is not a system. It's a club. Supposed case-by-case discretion is, in fact, merely cover for tailored deals, unfair treatment, and inconsistent rulings.
"It's not just the different results for different players. It's the lack of transparency. The lack of process. The lack of consistency. The lack of credibility in the alphabet soup of agencies charged with regulating our sports and athletes."
Djokovic has also suggested he didn't agree with such a light ban for Sinner, and his withdrawal from the Italian Open has now raised plenty of eyebrows. Speaking after his loss in Madrid last week, the 37-year-old admitted he's having to come to terms with a new reality.
"I've had a few of these this year where I lose in the first round, unfortunately," Djokovic sighed. "Still my level of tennis is not where I would like it to be. It could be (my last Madrid Open), it could be. I'm not sure if I will come back. So, I don't know, I don't know what to say. I mean, I'll come back, maybe not as a player. I hope it's not, but it could be.
'I was hoping I can play one more match than I played in Monte Carlo. (It's) kind of a new reality for me, I have to say, trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament.
'It's a completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years of professional tennis. It's a challenge for me mentally to really face these kinds of sensations on the court - going out early now regularly in tournaments.'
The news that he won't play in Rome left tennis fans surprised and saddened on Tuesday. Many moved to point out the detail with Sinner's return, suggesting it might not be a coincidence.
How does he expect to compete at Roland Garros if he barely has any matches on clay? He has played 2 matches, & lost all 4 sets
— NMH (@nosmh_x) April 29, 2025
I don't blame him after getting concussed last year and the whole steroid scandal surrounding the world #1
— Darth Caul (@DarthCaul) April 29, 2025
I hate to say this but maybe it is time to call it a day for Diokovic. He is a true champion and will be forever remembered as one of the greatest if not the greatest. His form is way below the level needed right now.
— Domenico Maglia (@DomenicoMaglia) April 29, 2025
Sinner is back, Djokovic goes into hiding 😭
— Tennis In the Park 🇺🇦 (@TennisInthePar1) April 29, 2025
Such a bummer to hear about Novak's withdrawal from Rome! We know he's making the best choice for his health and future victories! Let's rally behind him and keep up the support, everyone! He's still the GOAT in our hearts!
— Djokovic's Devoted (@DjokerDevotee) April 29, 2025
Djokovic pulling out of Rome basically tells you he's not overly optimistic about RG. That said, he's reached the last 6 Wimbledon finals that's he's played. He should be pumped to get back on the grass. https://t.co/KqrdN1NLwI
— Tennis Connected (@TennisConnected) April 29, 2025
Very wise decision. However before FO, should play atleast one smaller tournament to get the rytham back.
— Djoker Nole (@Sumanbhowmik2) April 29, 2025
Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur's path in Madrid has been made a lot easier after World No.2 Alexander Zverev suffered a shock 7-5 6-2 loss to Francisco Cerundolo. De Minaur advanced to his fifth-consecutive Masters 1000 fourth round appearance by beating Denis Shapovalov 6-3 7-6 (7-3).
With Zverev and Djokovic crashing out early and Carlos Alcaraz absent due to injury, de Minaur has a golden opportunity. The Aussie recorded his 24th win of the year to draw level with Alcaraz for most on the ATP Tour.
"He's got tremendous firepower from every part of the court, and I had to do my best to neutralise it, and not let him dictate as much as he could," said de Minaur, who has won all five matches against Shapovalov.
with agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Sinner's still here!
Alcaraz, 22, fought from two sets down and saved three championship points to defend his Roland Garros crown in a magnificent six-hour Paris thriller Getty Images Carlos Alcaraz produced a comeback for the ages to defeat Jannik Sinner and take the 2025 French Open final in a six-hour instant classic in Paris. Alcaraz, 22, defended his title by coming back from two sets down and saving three championship points to win 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2). The Spaniard was broken twice as the world No. 1 and slight favorite Sinner started strongly on Court Philippe-Chatrier, and Alcaraz went two sets behind after being edged out of the second-set tiebreak at sunny Roland Garros. Alcaraz won three breaks in the third set and won a dramatic tiebreak to level the match before he went 7-0 up in the championship breaker with some celestial tennis and sealed his triumph with a laser forehand. GO FURTHER Carlos Alcaraz beats Jannik Sinner to win French Open in tennis classic Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-7(3), 1-2* Alcaraz Sinner 15-0, and the umpire confirms Sinner's ball is out, just. 15-all. Sinner serve called out, Alcaraz overrules and calls it in. These two gents, honestly. Ooh, Alcaraz return long, and this is game point to the world No. 1, the top seed, the pre-match favorite. The mid-match favorite! Another return long and Sinner is on the board. He's not going anywhere. Getty Images Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-7(3), *0-2 Alcaraz Sinner rather limped to his chair between games, and trudged wearily across court to receive serve from Carlos Alcaraz. Is his body failing him? 30-0 Alcaraz. Sinner into the net, slides for the volley, 30-15. A guttural roar from Alcaraz, deep from his diaphragm, bursts out of his mouth as he levers away a winner for 40-15 and game point. Sinner long, Alcaraz nods curtly to his box, who nod back. Jannik Sinner has never won a match more than three hours and 50 minutes. Carlos Alcaraz has never come from two sets down. One of those pillars will fall, alongside the perfect Grand Slam final record that both players currently hold. Getty Images Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-7(3), 0-1* Alcaraz Goodness me, Carlos Alcaraz is pumped up. He wins the first two points of the fifth and final set here on Chatrier, on Jannik Sinner's serve no less, and the crowd love it. Gasps as Alcaraz mishits one, bottom of the net, 15-30. Next point is massive. And it goes to Carlos, double break point! One saved by Sinner for 30-40... First serve out. Second serve, into a rally, one end to another, nearly four and a half hours on the clock, Alcaraz finally changes the rhythm, fearlessly, with a drop shot. And Sinner misses! Break! What a match. What a sport. Here we go. Getty Images Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-7(3) Alcaraz ALCARAZ TAKES THE SET! MY WORD, WHAT A TENNIS MATCH! Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-6(*3-6) Alcaraz Alcaraz high, Sinner smash, 4-3. What a treat this match has been. But Sinner duffs a second-serve return miles long for 5-3! And, pressure mounting on the tall Italian's shoulders, Sinner goes long! Alcaraz points at the ball mark, and it's out! He has three set points to take this into a deciding fifth set. Sinner won't feel secure even with a decent lead in a tiebreak. He led Alcaraz 3-0 in the deciding tiebreak of the China Open final last fall. Alcaraz went stratospheric and won seven points in a row to win the title. Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-6(*2-4) Alcaraz Ace from Alcaraz! Close, but Sinner says it's good. Another serve, called out, but it's good as both players and the umpire inspect it! 2-0 down, 3-2 up for Alcaraz. Still on serve though. That nuclear forehand sparked the momentum shift of this tiebreak on Chatrier. And Sinner goes wide! Four points in a row! Getty Images Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-6(2-1*) Alcaraz Alcaraz slams it into the net and mutters darkly and uncharitably. Sinner takes the serve after the narrowest of mini-breaks. Uh oh, Alcaraz long, Sinner 2-0 up and with the serve. Big next point. You absolute dancer, Carlos. He pings a forehand winner for 2-1 and takes the serve back. It is funny that re my earlier post that Sinner had lost all six of his matches longer than three hours 50 minutes, he got broken serving for the match as the clock ticked over that mark. Is three hours, 50 minutes for Sinner like midnight for Cinderella? Sinner struggling late in the day? Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-6* Alcaraz 40-15 to Jannik Sinner, world No. 1, but his feet are caked in quicksand as he can only watch Alcaraz grip it and rip it past him for a flaming forehand winner, easily more than 100 miles an hour on that. 40-30, but Sinner holds. Tiebreak. Remember, Sinner won the breaker in the second... Sinner has chosen a terrible time to play his worst tennis of the afternoon. Getty Images Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 5-6* Alcaraz Almost disappointment, a stunned hush, greets Sinner going 15-0 up. Then Alcaraz predicts which way he will smash but can only bat it into the tramlines. Good effort, nonetheless. But he's 30-0 down and a tiebreak beckons. Or does it? Sinner bullets one into the net, 30-15. Poor. Can Sinner lose this set and win the match? If he does it'll be one of the most amazing resets in the history of the sport. Now that is a wild stat from our very own Matt Futterman . Momentum = swung. Getty Images Alcaraz has won 13 out of 14 points since being down triple-match point.
San Francisco Chronicle
3 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
After a flawless fortnight in Paris, Sinner's eye-catching run at French Open ends in heartbreak
PARIS (AP) — After a flawless fortnight in Paris, Jannik Sinner was on the brink of capturing his first French Open title on Sunday after a dominant run on the clay courts of Roland-Garros. Facing defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, the top-ranked Italian was firmly in control. Sinner's deep groundstrokes, excellent service, heavy top spin, and subtle variations had worn down Alcaraz, who found himself 5-3 down and trailing 0-40 in the fourth set, and facing three match points. At that moment, it felt like the best of all possible worlds for the 23-year-old Sinner. But then the momentum swung. Alcaraz fought back, saved the first match point when Sinner sent a forehand long. On the second, Sinner missed a return. The third ended with Alcaraz winning a short baseline exchange. Sinner had just let his chance slip away. From there, Alcaraz produced one of the greatest comeback in Roland-Garros history to win the longest final ever played on the Parisian dirt — 5 hours and 29 minutes — 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2). 'It's an amazing trophy, so I won't sleep tonight very well, but it's okay,' Sinner said during the trophy ceremony. Exciting rivalry There is hardly anything between the two best players in tennis at the moment, who have now combined to win the last six Grand Slam titles and appear poised to build one of the sport's most compelling rivalries in the years ahead. Sunday's duel delivered a match of rare intensity, filled with punishing baseline rallies, exquisite drop shots, and brilliant passing shots — thrilling a packed Court Philippe-Chatrier. 'This one hurts' 'Obviously, this one hurts,' he said. 'There's not so much to say right now. But again, I'm happy with how we're trying to improve every day and put myself in these kinds of positions. It was a very high-level match, that's for sure. I'm happy to be part of it. But yeah, the final result hurts.' It was a particularly tough ending for Sinner, who had not dropped a set on his way to the final, including a dominant semifinal win over three-time French Open champion Novak Djokovic. Before facing Alcaraz, Sinner had never lost a Grand Slam final, winning his first three. A victory would have made him just the fifth man in the Open Era to win three consecutive major titles. 'I'm pretty sure you are going to be a champion, not once but many, many times,' Alcaraz told him during the trophy ceremony. 'It is a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament, making history with you.' 'Now it's my time to take something from the close people I have,' he said. 'As I've always said, before my career started, I never would've imagined finding myself in this position. It wasn't even a dream because it felt so far away — I wasn't even thinking about it. Now I find myself here, playing the longest final in the history of Roland-Garros. It hurts, yes, but on the other hand, you can't go on crying.' ___
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rafael Nadal Sends Message After French Open Final
Rafael Nadal Sends Message After French Open Final originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Tennis legend Rafael Nadal is the most accomplished man in Roland Garros history, and the "King of Clay" stamped the 2025 French Open men's singles final with a lasting message. Advertisement Nadal, who won 14 French Open titles and at one point won 81 consecutive matches on clay, was honored at Roland Garros on May 25 as this year's major event began. The Spaniard was joined by Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray as he received a loud ovation from the crowd in Paris. He played his last match at Roland Garros alongside Carlos Alcaraz in the men's doubles tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games. On Sunday, it was No. 2 Alcaraz and No. 1 Jannik Sinner who carried on the legacy with an epic final that drew a response from Nadal on social media. Carlos Alcaraz (left) and Rafael Nadal (right) at Roland Garros during the 2025 French Mullane-Imagn Images Alcaraz fought off three championship points after falling into a 2-0 hole after the first two sets. The young Spaniard battled back to force a fifth set tiebreak, claiming his second consecutive French Open men's singles title. Advertisement At 5 hours and 29 minutes, it made history as the longest final match in Roland Garros history. It was also the second-longest Grand Slam men's singles final, behind only Djokovic vs. Nadal in the 2012 Australian Open (5:53). Congratulations from the "King of Clay" were in order after the incredible display from both athletes. "What an incredible @rolandgarros final!" Nadal posted on X in Spanish. "Congratulations @carlosalcaraz!" "Congrats also @janniksin for the great battle," he added in English in the same post. Like Nadal, Alcaraz was quick to give kudos to his opponent after their historic battle. Advertisement "I want to start with Jannik," Alcaraz said on the court after the win. "It is amazing the level you have... You are going to be champion not once, but many many times. It is a privilege to share the court with you." Related: Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner Make History in French Open Final Related: Ben Shelton's Girlfriend Trinity Rodman Issues Strong Statement on Relationship Before French Open This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
