VIDEO: Djokovic gears up preparation for Rome with stint in Marbella, loses elbow pad after recent injury issues

Novak Djokovic is getting ready to return in Rome as he was spotted practising on a clay court in Marbella recently having skipped over the Madrid Open.

Djokovic is the defending champion in Rome as he was able to easily cruise to the final and then comfortably beat Tsitsipas in it. The Serbian's last outing came in Banja Luka where he lost to compatriot Lajovic who won the event. It's been some lacklustre weeks of tennis for Djokovic on clay as he hasn't really looked good with an apparent elbow issue bothering as well.

He's not playing with an elbow pad anymore which might indicate that his elbow is now fine after it bothered him for a while. Skipping over Madrid might have had something to do with that elbow too though Djokovic continuously played it down explaining that it's not an issue. The video of Djokovic working in Marbella showed him looking very good so it's likely we'll see a really good version of Djokovic in Rome.

It's one of his favourite events and one where he played some of his best tennis over the years.