Following his shocking defeat to world number 123 Luca Nardi at Indian Wells last week, Novak Djokovic has announced that he will be skipping the Miami Open. The world’s number one ranked player cited the need to balance his “private and professional schedule” as the reason for his decision.
In a statement posted on his social media accounts on Saturday, Djokovic expressed regret at not being able to compete in Miami and apologized to the passionate fans who support him. His unexpected loss to Nardi at Indian Wells marked a rare defeat for the 36-year-old tennis legend.
Nardi, a 20-year-old Italian ranked 123 in the world, made history by becoming the lowest-ranked player to defeat Djokovic at a Grand Slam or ATP Masters 1000 level event. He entered the tournament as a “lucky loser” after narrowly missing out on qualifying, and capitalized on the opportunity by defeating the six-time Miami Open champion.
Despite his early season struggles and lack of titles in 2024, Djokovic remains one of the most accomplished players in the history of the sport, with 24 Grand Slam titles to his name. The Miami Open, a prestigious men’s hardcourt tournament, will kick off on March 20 without the presence of the Serbian star.