Novak Djokovic pulls out of $1.1m tournament despite making final in 2025

Mar 16, 2026 - 12:45

Novak Djokovic has dropped out of the Miami Open and is at risk of losing his podium spot on the tennis rankings.

The world No.3 has pulled out of the second leg of the Sunshine Double after losing to Jack Draper in Indian Wells.

Djokivic and Alcaraz — Djokovic was the last Grand Slam winner that wasn’t Sinner or Alcaraz (US Open 2023)

He has suffered a right shoulder and forearm injury and his absence from the tournament means he has only competed in two events this calendar year.

Djokovic made it obvious he was playing through pain as he wore an arm sleeve throughout the competition.

Ahead of his fourth-round clash with Draper he said: “I’ve been struggling the last couple of weeks with that forearm and trying to go through.

“It’s a bit odd, the more I serve, the better I feel, but then it varies if I get cold.

“If I don’t serve for five or six minutes, then I feel like the first couple of serves of that game are a bit painful.

“I’m working through it, it’s not something I haven’t faced before.

“It’s the ins and outs of being a tennis player at this level, but overall, the body is feeling okay. Hopefully it’s going to get better every day.”

It also means the 38-year-old will be unable to fight for a massive prize fund of $1.1million (£830k).

Although, throughout his distinguished career, the Olympic gold medalist has already made himself £145m.

The Miami Open means a lot to the Serbian as he has been crowned champion in Florida six times, with his first title claimed in 2007.

Djokovic playing in the Miami Open — Djokovic has reduced his schedule in recent years to focus on the major Opens

The 24-time Grand Slam champion completed a hat-trick of Miami Open victories in 2014, 2015 and 2016 but has not replicated that success since.

The draw for the 2026 Miami Open takes place on Monday with the first games to be played on Tuesday.

Djokovic will now lose the 650 ranking points he earned for being runner-up 12 months ago in Miami and is set to drop outside the world’s top three, with Alexander Zverev only 350 points behind.

He had been having a promising 2026 after he reached the Australian Open final and played in the round of 16 at Indian Wells.

He faced British No.1 Draper last week in Florida, with his last time fighting for an appearance in the quarter final at Indian Wells being in 2016.

The 38-year-old claimed the first set, however, Draper forced it to a decider, with the third set being pushed to a tie-break which was where the young Brit won the match point.

Djokovic and Sinner — Djokovic beat Sinner in January in the semi-finals of the Australian Open

The world No.3 will rest his shoulder and prepare for the Monte Carlo Masters in April.

Jannik Sinner won the most recent edition of Indian Wells against Daniil Medvedev and is currently threatening Djokovic’s record of most consecutive sets won in a Masters 1000 tournament.

The Italian tennis player thrives in these tournaments and has just surpassed Carlos Alcaraz’s 21-set streak from 2023 and he currently has his eyes set on the 38-year-olds top spot of 24 sets.