Novak Djokovic withdraws from Miami Open with shoulder injury, ranking drop looming

Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the upcoming Miami Open, citing a right shoulder injury that will prevent him from competing in the second half of the traditional Sunshine Double. The Serbian, one of the most successful players in the history of the tournament, will therefore miss the opportunity to defend the ranking points he earned by reaching the final in 2025.

The absence carries significant consequences for the world rankings. Djokovic is set to lose 650 points from last year’s run in Miami, which will result in a drop in the ATP Rankings. The Serbian is expected to fall to at least fourth place, moving behind Germany’s Alexander Zverev once the ranking update is applied following the tournament.

Djokovic’s withdrawal comes shortly after his campaign at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells ended earlier than expected. The Serbian was eliminated in the round of 16 by defending champion Jack Draper, marking another challenging week in a season that has already been disrupted by physical concerns.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion is now expected to remain off the tour until the start of the European clay-court season. His earliest possible return is projected for the Monte Carlo Masters in early April, where he traditionally begins his preparation for the French Open.

For Djokovic, the decision to withdraw represents another interruption in a season already shaped by physical setbacks. The shoulder problem means the Serbian will not only miss one of the ATP Tour’s key Masters 1000 events but will also forfeit the large points total earned during last year’s final run.

The ranking consequences are unavoidable. With 650 points from the 2025 Miami final coming off his total, Djokovic is set to slip in the standings, with Zverev expected to move ahead of him.

The Miami withdrawal also breaks Djokovic’s limited recent participation in the tournament. Despite his historic success at the event, he has played the Miami Masters only once since 2019. Last season marked a rare return, when he advanced through the draw before ultimately falling in the final to Jakub Mensik.

Djokovic’s absence will be particularly notable given his record in Miami. The Serbian has long been one of the tournament’s defining figures, winning six titles and reaching eight finals during his career. Those achievements place him level with Andre Agassi for the most titles in the history of the event. His most recent appearance in the championship match came in 2025, when he finished runner-up after losing to Menšík in the final.

Djokovic’s focus will now shift toward recovery ahead of Monte-Carlo. With the European clay swing approaching and Roland Garros on the horizon, the coming weeks may prove crucial in determining how competitive the veteran remains across the remainder of the season.

So far this season Djokovic has played two tournaments, holding an 8–2 record. At the Australian Open he produced one of the surprises of the event by reaching the final — eliminating two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner along the way — but ultimately fell to Carlos Alcaraz in the title match.

This week, on his return to Tennis Paradise, Djokovic defeated Kamil Majchrzak and Aleksandar Kovacevic on his way to the Round of 16, where he eventually lost to Jack Draper in a third-set tie-break.