Novak Djokovic confirms that he won't play the Miami Open

After his shocking third-round exit to 123rd-ranked lucky loser Luca Nardi in Indian Wells, Novak Djokovic is moving on to preparing for the European clay-court season.

On Thursday, per reports from Christopher Clarey and Sasa Ozmo, the world No. 1 would not play the Miami Open. Later that day on Tennis Channel Live, Steve Weissman said the 36-year-old is "gonna rest up, get ready for the red-clay season."

Official confirmation didn't come from Djokovic untl Saturday, with the Serbian saying that "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."

Before returning to the BNP Paribas Open for his opening match this past Saturday, Djokovic hadn’t appeared at either leg of the Sunshine Double since 2019. The Serbian memorably claimed his first of a record-breaking 40 Masters 1000 titles at Miami in 2007. He has won 11 total titles between Indian Wells and Miami, but has now failed to win either of the two prestigious hard-court events since 2016.

Djokovic is 8-3 this season and without a title to his name. After falling to Nardi Monday, Djokovic told press, “Obviously 10 minutes ago I was on the court, so I'm still hot-headed a bit. I need to take a day or two and then see what I want to do next.”

Fellow 20-plus-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, who withdrew from Indian Wells as an injury precaution, has yet to confirm his participation at the Miami Open.

In skipping Miami, it opens the door for Jannik Sinner to continue making his case to challenge the 36-year-old for the world No. 1 ranking this spring. Djokovic has a Roland Garros crown to defend, while Sinner’s best clay-court showing was a Monte Carlo semifinal. The Italian has surpassed his 2023 Indian Wells result with a run to the semifinals (if not farther), though does have a runner-up effort to back up in Miami as well.