Novak Djokovic forced to withdraw from Monte-Carlo Masters for first time in 15 years as injury concerns grow

The Monte-Carlo Masters has been hit with another high-profile withdrawal in the form of two-time champion Novak Djokovic.

The 38-year-old started the year in scintillating fashion, reaching an 11th Australian Open final before losing out against the world number one, Carlos Alcaraz. He then could only manage a last-16 appearance at Indian Wells, getting dumped out by the hands of 2025 champion Jack Draper. He was set to compete in the Qatar Open between those events but opted against doing so, resting and preserving his body for the Sunshine double.

He would only compete in half of this as the Serbian decided to withdraw from the Miami Open due to an ongoing right shoulder issue which has caused him some issues in recent times.

This could possibly be the reason he is not making a return to Monaco to kick off the clay swing. He competed in the Monte-Carlo Masters last year, losing in the second round to Alejandro Tabilo before exiting at the same point in the Rome Open. He would go on to win his 100th ATP title at the Geneva Open, which proved to be enough preparation to reach the second of four consecutive semi-final appearances in Grand Slams in 2025.

He will not have the chance to, as intended, utilise the clay courts of Monaco for preparation for the second major tournament of the year, stranded on the sidelines for a little while longer. The news was announced via the Monte-Carlo Masters Instagram page, where they posted: "Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the tournament," it read. "We send him our best wishes and hope to see him back on court very soon."

This ends a run of 13 consecutive visits to the tournament. From his first involvement all the way back in 2006, he has only missed one year (2011). He is a four-time finalist, finishing as runner-up in 2009 and 2012 to a supreme Rafael Nadal before finally triumphing in 2013 and 2015, ending Nadal's dominance first before taking down Tomas Berdych.

By skipping Monte-Carlo, Djokovic is essentially prioritizing the 'big picture' over immediate ranking points. At 38, the transition from hard courts to clay is the most physically taxing period of the year. The heavy, damp conditions of Monaco often exacerbate shoulder and joint inflammation—the exact issues currently plagueing his right side. By withdrawing now, his team is clearly gambling on a 'back-loaded' clay season. If he can achieve 100% health for the Rome Masters, he will have enough rhythm to defend his Roland Garros title. However, as Martina Navratilova recently noted, a lack of match practice is the one thing even a legend like Djokovic cannot easily overcome.

The tournament will feel very different without him as the best players in the world look to capitalise on his absence. He is not the only one, with Taylor Fritz also recently having withdrawn due to a knee problem. The tournament will last from April 5 to 12.