Djokovic withdraws from the Miami Open
Just a breather or is trouble brewing?
Djokovic withdraws from the Miami Open. Top-ranked Novak Djokovic will skip the Miami Open. It’s less than a week after a surprise loss at Indian Wells. He said that he needs to balance his “private and professional schedule.”
Djokovic’s announcement Saturday on his social media accounts follows his 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 defeat to unheralded Luca Nardi on Monday in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.
The player writes…
“At this stage of my career, I’m balancing my private and professional schedule. I’m sorry that I won’t experience some of the best and most passionate fans in the world,” Djokovic wrote.
Novak Djokovic on Twitter: “Hi Miami!Unfortunately I won’t be playing the @MiamiOpen this year. At this stage of my career, I’m balancing my private and professional schedule. I’m sorry that I won’t experience some of the best and most passionate fans in the world. I’m looking fw competing in MI in future! / Twitter”
Hi Miami!Unfortunately I won’t be playing the @MiamiOpen this year. At this stage of my career, I’m balancing my private and professional schedule. I’m sorry that I won’t experience some of the best and most passionate fans in the world. I’m looking fw competing in MI in future!
Huge upset
Nardi, who is currently ranked No. 123, has achieved a remarkable feat by defeating Djokovic in a Grand Slam or ATP Masters 1000 level event. He has become the lowest-ranked player to achieve this feat, surpassing Kevin Anderson, who was ranked No. 122 in 2008 in Miami.
The 20-year-old Italian was included in the field as a “lucky loser.” This means he was a player who stumbled on the final hurdle in qualifying but got into the main draw as a replacement for an injured player who pulled out before the first round.
The 36-year-old Djokovic is a six-time champion in Miami, and the hardcourt tournament is set to begin next week.