“I think he needs to have more matches before the big ones" - Navratilova recommends Djokovic to step on court more often to boost Grand Slam hopes

The Miami Open gets underway this week, but Novak Djokovic will not be there. The six-time champion recently pulled out of the second Masters 1000 tournament of 2026 due to a shoulder problem picked up at Indian Wells. Martina Navratilova believed he should be on the court more, whilst Tim Henman did not come across as remotely surprised with his decision.

Djokovic ended a bad spell of form in the Sunshine Swing by reaching the final in Florida. He was the firm favourite for more success, but was prevented by the rising talent Jakub Mensik, who managed to come out on top in a brace of tiebreaks to seal maiden Masters 1000 glory.

Djokovic had planned to compete in the following on from his expedition at Indian Wells. That ended earlier than he would have hoped, losing in the fourth round to reigning champion Jack Draper. He will now glance at the ATP rankings in anguish, with a huge 650 ranking points being taken off. Alexander Zverev hugely benefits, bumping Djokovic down to fourth.

Navratilova tried putting her finger on why the 24-time Grand Slam champion was not venturing out to Miami, hinting at the chaotic weather. “The weather is causing havoc with the tournament and it’s really too bad, Novak last year’s finalist and the greatest, not being able to play,” the 18-time Grand Slam champion said on Sky Sports. “We did not see anything going on with his shoulder here but the balls and everything is heavier in Miami, so who knows? Hopefully everything will be okay and we will see him soon again.

Henman was not at all surprised by Djokovic not competing. “I don’t think it’s a massive surprise. He is very selective as to where he plays and dips in and out," he stated. If you look at last year, Djokovic took the whole of the North American hardcourt swing off ahead of the US Open. He also skipped the Italian Open to play in the Geneva Open, where he won his 100th ATP title.

The former British number one was intrigued by his future scheduling plans, specifically on clay. “I will be very interested to see how much he plays on the clay. That is the most physically demanding surface. Will he play something before the French? Will he play the French at all? Will he just focus on the grass? Who knows.”

Navratilova was firmly of the opinion that more matches and tournaments for the 38-year-old is the best thing possible for preparation and gaining momentum in a busy period, specifically referring to the biggest tournaments the ATP can offer - Grand Slams, ATP Finals, and Masters 1000.

“I think he needs to have more matches before the big ones," she stated. "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.”

Djokovic will continue to be picky about where he plays. This is largely down to his age and physical condition that comes with it. Injury is a real threat, much more than it was when he was younger. Despite preserving his body and staying extremely fit, even he has his limits.

While Navratilova has a point, Djokovic proved at the 2026 Australian Open that he can skip months and still be competitive. He last competed in the Helelnic Championships, winning the title over Lorenzo Musetti before pulling out of the ATP Finals due to injury. His plans to feature in Adelaide went up in smoke as he continued to recover, allowing his body the most time possible before setting foot onto the court. He would later reach the final, playing some brilliant tennis in resemblance to his prime before being prevented from an 11th title in Melbourne against Carlos Alcaraz.

Fans will start being used to Djokovic not playing in as many events as he would normally. The clay beckons for the Serbian, with the Miami Open being the final hardcourt tournament until August, when they traverse back to the USA. He will look to make the most of it.