Photo credit: Rob Stone/@RobStoneTennis
Novak Djokovic has bid farewell to Rome.
Grand Slam king Djokovic has officially withdrawn from next week’s ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Rome.
Tournament organizers announced Djokovic’s withdrawal today though no specific reason was cited in the announcement.
Novak Djokovic has announced he won't take part to #IBI25.
— Internazionali BNL d'Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) April 29, 2025
See you next year, Nole pic.twitter.com/UfRmUck5kc
It is the end of an era marking the first time since his 2007 Rome debut that Djokovic will not play the Foro Italico.
Djokovic, who speaks Italian and trained in Italy in his younger years, is a six-time Rome champion.
The Serbian superstar won his last Rome title in 2022 defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.
Former world No. 1 Djokovic has been searching for confidence since his run to the Australian Open semifinals. Djokovic sprayed one final forehand beyond the baseline ending a 6-3, 6-4 Madrid upset loss to Matteo Arnaldi last week.
Minutes later, Djokovic said that misfire may well be his Mutua Madrid Open parting shot.
The 37-year-old Serbian superstar said his third straight loss may be his final Madrid match.
“It could be. It could be,” Djokovic told the media in Madrid. “I’m not sure if I will come back. So, I don’t know, I don’t know what to say.
“I mean, I’ll come back, maybe not as a player, of course. I hope it’s not, but it could be.”
It is Djokovic’s second three-match losing streak of this 2025 season