Novak Djokovic to miss Madrid Open, say organisers
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Serbia's Novak Djokovic had dropped just four games against the 70th-ranked Dusan Lajovic across two previous meetings.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
BANJA LUKA – Novak Djokovic has pulled out of this week’s Madrid Open, organisers confirmed on Saturday, with the world No. 1 joining Rafael Nadal on the sidelines most likely due to an elbow injury.
The Serb, who was unable to play in the United States hard-court swing earlier this season because he is not vaccinated against Covid-19, was preparing for the clay season but got knocked out early at the Monte Carlo Masters and Banja Luka Open.
“I didn’t feel physically well on the court. My legs were slow and my footwork was torpid. Many missed shots, totally without direction,” said the 35-year-old after his 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) quarter-final defeat by compatriot Dusan Lajovic on Friday at the Banja Luka event in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“I was many levels below what I want. Playing like that, I can’t win against opponents who are so solid on this surface. But what can I do? I was trying but it wasn’t working.”
Djokovic, who has been struggling with an elbow issue, said before Saturday’s Madrid withdrawal that he was still hopeful of finding his groove on clay before the May 28-June 11 French Open.
It remains to be seen what his plans are.
“Wishing you a speedy recovery, we hope to see you back on court as soon as possible, Nole,” Madrid Open organisers said in a statement without giving any details on Djokovic’s condition.
Nadal said on Thursday that he would miss the Madrid tournament after a setback in his recovery from a hip injury suffered at the Australian Open in January.
Djokovic is targeting a record 23rd Grand Slam title at the French Open.
But his elbow has hampered him during his last-16 loss in Monte Carlo and was “not in ideal condition” in Banja Luka, where Andrey Rublev made his second final in as many weeks with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Slovakia’s Alex Molcan.
Rublev has reached the final without dropping a set and will play Lajovic or Miomir Kecmanovic for the title.
In Munich, defending champion Holger Rune booked a return to the final, defeating Australian Christopher O’Connell 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday.
The Dane will take on fourth-seeded Botic van de Zandschulp on Sunday after the Dutch world No. 29 beat American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) in the other semi-final.
In the 2022 final, Rune claimed his first ATP title when van de Zandschulp retired injured while leading 4-3 in the opening set.
In Barcelona, Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 on Saturday to reach the final for the third time.
The Greek second seed lost on both occasions against Rafael Nadal in 2018 and 2021 and faces defending champion Carlos Alcaraz who overcame Dan Evans 6-2, 6-2.
The women’s competition saw world No. 1 Iga Swiatek progress to the Stuttgart Open final on Saturday after her opponent Ons Jabeur retired injured three games into the first set.
The Pole on Sunday will face Aryna Sabalenka in a repeat of the 2022 final, following the Belarusian’s comfortable straight-sets victory over Anastasia Potapova.
Tunisian Jabeur, on a seven-match winning run after recovering from injury, looked to have hurt herself during the last point of the first game.
The world No. 4, fresh from her title win in Charleston earlier in April, took a medical timeout but, despite playing on with her left calf bandaged for two more games, she decided to stop with Swiatek 3-0 up.
“I really tried but at that point I don’t know what happened,” a tearful Jabeur said. “I was excited to play Iga and seeing that the stadium is full. I am sorry about it.”
Australian Open winner Sabalenka needed just 58 minutes to storm into her third straight Stuttgart final with a 6-1, 6-2 demolition of Potapova. AFP, REUTERS
