Novak Djokovic Officially Withdraws From Madrid

Top seed? A 33 yr old in a strong era? This Olderer must be good…
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Good move on Nole’s part imo. Don’t burnout before RG.

April 30th, 2015 at 10:26 am

i think it’s a good choice too: more time to rest and practice. the conditions are slightly different in madrid than monte carlo, rome or paris, so if he were to pick one to miss, i think this is the right one. i am sure he’ll be practicing.

April 30th, 2015 at 10:52 am

I agree with skeezer. The last year or so looks rather weak to me. Today an almost 34 yr old Roger is the best of the rest. Speaks to his unmatched longevity in terms of relevance.

Hardly a strong era when one player is dominating the field with more than 5000 point lead.

You guys, Roger’s record point lead was arguably even higher if you account for inflation back in the day.

Golden era 2008-2013 RIP!!!

April 30th, 2015 at 11:22 am

When has anyone heard of Rafa, Roger taking Masters 1000 off to rest in the peak of their form? This is obviously different reason and I think Nole cannot handle tough crowd. He had shown he could not handle fans cheering for his opponent, let alone being openly against him. How does he expect Belgrade crowd cheer on Rafa playing against him…
Childish Nole. Very unsportsmanlike and this is the very reason you’ll never have as many fans as Rafa and Roger.
Too bad, since your tennis talent and strong will are there. You just can’t handle the fact that people like other players more. You don’t have that pure heart needed to acknowledge that other players do exist and do deserve equal if not bigger admiration.

April 30th, 2015 at 11:32 am

What a farce this has been for the last few days! Will he play? Won’t he play? He always knew he was going to withdraw!!! ROFL!!

April 30th, 2015 at 11:37 am

indeed, murray looks great again, having reached another slam and masters final at the start of this year. he’s veering back to his best. roger, meanwhile, continues to improve his game with edberg and the fruits of that labour were clearly in evidence throughout 2014 when he reached the wimbledon finals beating class players and then the us open semis, not to mention winning davis cup. 2014 was the best roger we had seen since the middle of 2012. then in 2014 we witnessed the break-throughs of stan, who had been pushing throughout 2013 too; nishikori, who reached his first slam final, and of course cilic. really, only rafa has been struggling but he had injuries and an operation. delpo too, but delpo has been on-and-off since he won his slam in 2009. 2014 we also saw the debuts of players like coric, kyrgios, and triple K, who show lots of promise. even dimitrov and ranoic had a pretty good 2014s, reaching the wimbledon semis. so, whatever. tennis looks pretty darn fine to me.

April 30th, 2015 at 11:53 am

Hilarious video re: Djokovic

http://youtu.be/bpl-cAAUj3o

April 30th, 2015 at 1:46 pm

Federer contrary to Djoko seems to be playing clay season for confidence. He is almost lock to win Istambul this weekend and has a good shot at Madrid (a title he won on clay twice). Altitude, faster conditions and being top seed courtesy to Novak. I think if he goes deep in Madrid or even win it he will skip Rome and go to RG with two titles in the bag or 1 title and a deep run, regardless if MC and Rome are the closest to RG conditions. He wants clay confidence and get some momentum.

Djoko on the other hand, already have MC with a win over Nadal, if he wins Rome and get another win over Nadal, he will be ready to Checkmate at RG, winning the 2 Masters that resemble the most RG. He had won 2 poor to RG in 2011, Madrid and Rome, but playing only MC and Rome and winning both would be huge for him. Plus he would have prolonged his major titles winning streak going back to Paris.

Also, Djoko and Fed have won the last 6 Masters contested, back to Cincy 2014: Cincy (Fed), Shangai (Fed), Paris (Djoko), IW/Miami/MC (Djoko).

April 30th, 2015 at 1:48 pm

To some Fed fans, talk of a weaker competitive era 2002-2007 is like nails on a chalkboard. As the theory has gained currency, plus more people believing that the only reason Rafa did not get to 18-20 on their hoary Slam Count meter was Djokovic stopping him or at least seriously slowing Nadal down – the latest comeback is this claim:
That a weak era started once their beloved Federer was past his peak. As Jane outlayed, the time is hardly without top level competition.

Roger Federer is a true all-time great. Still a force today. And without Rafa, he may indeed have won at RG a few times. But his stats were padded somewhat, the extent is arguable, by that weak era, which also benefited Lleyton Hewitt giving him an unimaginable 75 straight weeks at #1 before Fed began his great run as Big Fish (in a small pond).

Fed never beat his nemesis in a Slam after 2007. So in a sense all Fed fans should have gratitude that Djokovic ended FEDAL just at the point Nadal had begun to dominate it.
And there is Madrid 2009. The semi between Rafa and Nole was a classic, and the longest 3 set Masters played. Both had several match points. And left both guys hobbled the rest of 2009 (Nole well into 2010 to rebuild himself mentally). Which Fed was a big beneficiary of.

April 30th, 2015 at 2:26 pm

Just one match destroyed two professional players for a year or more?? LOL

April 30th, 2015 at 2:40 pm

I tell ya Sirius, that 3.5 hour match – it’s not like they’ve ever played 5hours+ in an grand slam final – just laid waste to 2 of the most splendid specimens of human athletic achievement. And case in point, Nadal has never had to take time off for injuries besides that one time in 2009.

April 30th, 2015 at 2:48 pm

rolf, rolf!! Little dog is barking…

April 30th, 2015 at 2:56 pm

Good decision, Novak…

Get more time with family, batteries recharged, both mental and physical, and get ready for Rome.

It will be so nice to root for all my faves without stress.

Top 10: Murray, Berdych and Ferrer
Old faves: Gulbis and Bellucci
French faves: Gasquet and Mannarino
Special fave:Estrella Burgos
Young guns: Coric and Rublev

And I’m sure I’ve firgotten many others.

PS

@Gilles
The farce was not made by Novak, but by our ” professional” journos who are desperate for clicks…

@elina
Are you sure you want to start talking about weak eras? Funny how nobody mentioned that when we had somebody else dominating the field. :)
Remember that he who kills by the sword, dies by the sword… that what is sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander.

April 30th, 2015 at 3:04 pm

I think it is unhealthy for tennis that the Masters Series / Super 9s / whatever they’re called these days are mandatory for the top pros.

I think the top guys and gals should have to play 3 or 4 of these things in a calendar year, giving them flexibility on how to prepare their schedules and best manage their health issues.

To me, the top players should focus primarily on the Slams, and if a player wants a break from the US Open all the way to the April clay court season, skipping the indoor season, the ATP/WTA Championships, the Aussie Open, Indian Wells and Miami, she or he should be able to do so.

The fans care about the Slams. TV cares about the Slams. I assume the championship caliber players mostly care about the Slams.

Good for Novak skipping Madrid. I hope they don’t fine him or suspend him from future tournaments.

April 30th, 2015 at 3:15 pm

“I hope they don’t fine him or suspend him from future tournaments.”

they can’t. he’s played over 600 matches, which allows him to skip one masters without penalty. he’s completely within his right not to play madrid.

April 30th, 2015 at 3:34 pm

It does not look good for the Madrid tournament reputation when for two years in a row they do not have the world #1 player participating.

Considering it is most likely Novak will be No.1 this time next year, I would not be surprised if Madrid Masters offers to pay Novak a huge appearance fee (‘under the table’, of course).

I know, it doesn’t happen usually since masters are “mandatory” and tournaments do not have to offer appearance fees to anyone, but in this particular case, the No.1 is allowed by rules to skip one Masters, and looks like he will make sure the one he skips each year is the Spanish one.

That leaves an interesting dilemma for Madrid organizers: either they offer him appearance fee for a “mandatory” tournament and anger Nadal, or they become known as the only Masters tournament without the best player in the world…

On the other hand, it may work as a unique advertising plot – imagine Madrid’s promotional materials in future – we are the only Masters 1000 not to feature the best player! If you get annoyed by seeing the best player beating the rest of the field, this is the place to be – we guarantee the No.1 will not win our tournament!!!

April 30th, 2015 at 4:13 pm

While Novak is an amazing player, it is Nadal and Federer who continue to be the main attraction in tennis.

Either of these two would be a much bigger loss in terms of tournament revenue.

April 30th, 2015 at 4:50 pm

Novak has the right to skip 2 MS1000 this year, since he has fulfilled two required conditions: more than 600 matches (1), 12 years as a pro (2).

April 30th, 2015 at 4:50 pm

Absolutely as per Mat 4
-give Nole the “slack” to which he is entitled.

April 30th, 2015 at 5:10 pm

Djokovic is not 31 yet. So he is not allowed to skip masters.
He is taking a zero pointer for Madrid.

That will be his punishment.

April 30th, 2015 at 5:18 pm

@mat4
I believe Novak didn’t play the minimum amount of tournaments in 2003 for it to count as a whole season, so he’s only played 11 full seasons as a pro.
Next year, though, he’ll fulfill that condition as well and will be able to skip two mandatory masters without penalty.

@Travis
You made me laugh aloud. I confess I thought that Tiriac giving money to Nole’s foundation during the Balkan floods last year was going to be enough incentive for Novak to play this year.

April 30th, 2015 at 5:38 pm

nole certainly does deserve some “slack.” he’s missed virtually no time over the years and plays deep into most tournaments he enters as well. he and federer definitely have been two of the more consistent players that way.

April 30th, 2015 at 5:47 pm

@Yolita:

That’s what I thought too, but I found that on eurosport.fr. I hope they know what they write.

BTW, an interesting article for nolefans:

http://livingtennis.me/2014/09/17/is-novak-djokovics-racket-his-secret-weapon/

April 30th, 2015 at 6:33 pm

that was interesting mat4, thanks. would you recommend that blog in general.

April 30th, 2015 at 6:44 pm

Also, Djokovic is the player who least play smaller tournaments. He plays zero 250 in last years (this year only played Doha because AO was postponed 1 week) and only 2 ATP 500, in Dubai and Beijing. He used to play Basel where he won a couple times but not anymore.

This year he will add Halle or Queens (only because there is another week between RG and Wimbledon), does anyone know which one he’ll play.

IF everything goes accordingly to plan, he will have 1 ATP 250 (Doha), 3 ATP 500 (Dubai, Halle/Queens and Beijing), 8 Masters, 1 WTF and 4 GS = 17 tourneys.

Last year he played 15 (less Doha and Halle/Queens).

Compared that to Fed and Nadal (who only played less because missed 5 tourneys due to injury / illnes).

April 30th, 2015 at 6:53 pm

I will put thi on Nole thread since they are coming from the same contry.
Excatly twenty two years ago the brightest star of female tennis was stabbed by crazy fan who wanted his favorite back at the top. He succeeded, Monica seles was never the same player after she returned (after 27 months), she managed to win one more AO at her age of 22 and that was her last slam. Crazy fan didn’t spend one single day in jail. I wish that happened in America instead of Germany, I believe he wouldn’t get out of jail/institution for a long long time.
By the age of 19 Monica won 9 GS titles, no player, male or female has ever done that. This is nice, few minutes long video about what happened, very much worth watching:

http://youtu.be/R2ixHAm5tD4

She has never played in Germany again, I believe she hasn’t been there either.

April 30th, 2015 at 7:01 pm

Correction, 8GS titles by the age of 19 and 9GS titles total.

April 30th, 2015 at 7:11 pm

@jane:

It seems to be an interesting blog. There is a similar one in French, life on the tour, by foot soldiers.

It is sometimes hard to read. I feel so sad for those who didn’t fulfil their dreams. But defeat is the norm in life.

April 30th, 2015 at 7:14 pm

@Daniel,
I am not sure that Nole is going to add any tournament before Wimbledon, besides, he plays DC this year and they are very serious about it. Tipsa is trying to play himself in form before QF match, by his own admission he was gutted for not being able to help Nole due to injury in the final two years ago. Troicki is fired up too and they are all playing more doubles this year to try to improve their chances in doubles matches and to find best pair for it.

April 30th, 2015 at 7:29 pm

indeed, it is mat4. but it’s great to read those more “firsthand” accounts sometimes.

April 30th, 2015 at 7:43 pm

@Sienna at 5.18 pm

Being 31 is not the only reason a player can skip a mandatory masters. There are 3 conditions:
1. Being 31+ years old
2. Having played 600 matches
3. Having played 12 full seasons as pro

If a player meets one condition, he can skip one mandatory masters 1000 w/o penalty. If a player meets 2 conditions, he can skip 2 mandatory masters. If a player meets the 3 conditions, he has no obligations whatsoever, he can skip as many masters as he wants.

Nole will not get a 0-pointer. He will get 0 points, but only because he plays very few tournaments, he never fulfills the 18 touenments he could count…But in theory, he could count the points earned in another tournament instead of Madrid.

I think that’s what Roger will do: he will count Istanbul instead of Miami.

April 30th, 2015 at 8:03 pm

thanks yolita! it’s amazing how clear it is when facts are brought into the picture.

April 30th, 2015 at 8:21 pm

@Yolita,
Thanks for detailed explanation to Sienna, she is a long standing Nole fan on TX.

As for Roger and Istanbul, he is obviously getting too relaxed in Istanbul Hamam Baths and massage, don’t blame him, that is something to experience, but can derail him from tennis:)

April 30th, 2015 at 8:27 pm

haha travis. looks like he will skip Madrid from now on..

April 30th, 2015 at 10:30 pm

o right if all thee are met you can skip at will. So fed can do what he wants.

May 1st, 2015 at 12:26 am

Expected!. An opportunity for Rafa to win a fifht Madrid master 1000.

May 1st, 2015 at 1:09 am

Thanks WogBoy, forgot about DC.
But I think with the extra week, he will probably play a tune up. as both are 500 now.

Will see, hope he plays.

May 1st, 2015 at 1:33 am

“Nadal has never had to take time off for injuries besides that one time in 2009.”

leo, that seems misinformed. hasn’t nadal taken time off for injury at other times? like the end of 2012 through to the beginning of 2013 with his knees? or almost the whole season post-wimbledon last year, which started due to a wrist issue? i realize there were illnesses in those stretches too but there were definitely breaks for injuries beyond 2009. he also had some special shots in his back last year, stem cell maybe? can’t remember precisely.

May 1st, 2015 at 1:47 am

Didn’t Rafa skip USOpen last year because of a shoulder injury.
Or is my memory playing tricks?

May 1st, 2015 at 3:36 am

Rafa also skipped AO 2005 or 2006 due to foot injury.

May 1st, 2015 at 4:13 am

I’m surprised that Rafa and Roger played a 5hour match in Rome final in 2006 and neither were “hobbled”, “destroyed” after that. Rafa went to win the French and Fed won Wimbledon and USO

May 1st, 2015 at 4:16 am

And to say that Novak is the reason Rafa don’t have 18-20 slams is also absurd. Djokovic has 3 wins over rafa at slams and the last one came at 2012 AO. Since then, he is 0-4 against rafa, one of which was on USO.

Rafa may have had 17 slams if not for djokovic. But that’s it. No way it would’ve been 20. Rafa had other problems than djokovic

May 1st, 2015 at 4:27 am

Do the people who make that argument not realize that Roger would also have more slams if not for Novak?

This is silly.

May 1st, 2015 at 5:54 am

Fedal were 9 years younger in 2006!!!

May 1st, 2015 at 6:26 am

^So??

May 1st, 2015 at 7:43 am

^^ I don’t need to answer that surely!!!

May 1st, 2015 at 7:46 am

@jane/@Sirius

““Nadal has never had to take time off for injuries besides that one time in 2009.””

I was being sarcastic – #FAIL! – about the Madrid match in 2009 that left both Nadal and Djokovic hobbled for the remainder of the year… ;-)

May 1st, 2015 at 9:43 am

oh, sorry about that leo. i must’ve been too tired to register the sarcasm. ha ha.

personally i don’t think it left both hobbled, though they did have some epic battles throughout that year’s clay season. i do think, however, that the madrid loss caused even more mental doubt in novak, all those match points lost, etc. i remember in his post-match interview he said he needs 2 racquets to beat rafa on clay or something.

May 1st, 2015 at 10:20 am

Glad No1e skipped the Madrid tournament. After the way the fans behaved when he played against Dimitrov in 2013, I can’t blame him for skipping it since he senses the hostility the Spaniards will display against him since he is slowly creeping-up on Rafa. They don’t deserve to see him… but I agree with a few of you, there will be an “under the table” appearance fee. Rome should be enough for him to get ready for Paris. This has to be the year after the last 2 years of disappointment on coming close. We shall see…

May 1st, 2015 at 12:47 pm

“since he senses the hostility the Spaniards will display against him…”

has he said this?

perhaps he just wants more time to train/rest?

May 1st, 2015 at 12:51 pm

Roger with the toughest draw in Madrid.

Could see Kyrgios, Isner, Berdych, Rafa before the finals.

May 1st, 2015 at 12:54 pm

@Leo

sorry I missed the sarcasm. I’m not very good at english

@elina

tough or easy draw probably won’t matter. Fed struggled against Gimeno Traver. Might get knocked out in 1st couple of rounds

May 1st, 2015 at 12:59 pm

I’m seeing this “under the table” BS again. Lol. Why would Madrid or any other tournament resort to under hand ploys to get joker or any other player to support their tournament. If they don’t wanna play they won’t play. There is plenty of star attraction without having to fuss over one player who in this case will not be missed in Madrid.

May 1st, 2015 at 1:03 pm

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2449603-novak-djokovic-doing-his-legacy-a-disservice-by-skipping-2015-madrid-masters

Ouch.

May 1st, 2015 at 1:43 pm

A lot of ifs in that article which don’t count for much.

However, the writer has a point about 2011, the single most impressive year of any player in history in my opinion bar none.

Miew!!

May 1st, 2015 at 2:03 pm

Travisit Bickle is a gem. Made me laugh aloud with his last paragraph too.

Glad if Nole skips Madrid indefinitely.

May 1st, 2015 at 2:38 pm

Skeezer = Jeremy Eckstein is an excellent writer. He understands that everyone wants Djokovic to have his winning or losing the French Open as the most important, defining point of the year. And how it is a calculated risk – Rafa may regroup in Nole’s absence.
And also that it is a lost opportunity. By not showing up at Madrid, Nole lost a chance to have the best 1st half season ever, and a chance at something more difficult than a Grand Slam – a Masters and Masters Championship (WTF) Sweep. Only Fed and Novak in the Open Era, IMO, were capable of it. Those two have had years of frightening consistency – everywhere – winning or going deep – throughout a whole year. Something Agassi couldn’t do. And mastery of all surfaces, Outdoors and indoors, something Nadal lacks. (Put him indoors and almost count on Rafa not getting the trophy.)

No net touch done, a French Open under his belt, it would have been interesting to have Djokovic and his team contemplate with 4 straight Masters wins and the WTF done, the possibility of going for something more difficult to achieve than a Grand Slam. 2 clays, Toronto, Cincinnati where he hadn’t won yet, and Shanghai were left. Still could happen in another year.
If he gets the white whale, that is.
Otherwise, Ion Tiriac may see Nole doing a Williams Sistas style “no show” for Madrid the rest of his career

May 1st, 2015 at 2:40 pm

I just don’t think winning all masters event is a practically possible achievement so realistically, he wasn’t giving up much. (I also don’t think much weight is given to best “half year” from a historical perspective.)

Novak “only” managed five of nine in the most impressive single year ever and Roger just four in both 2005-06, his most dominant period.

For that matter, no one has ever completed a career Masters sweep, let alone in a single year. Novak is missing just whereas Nadal and Roger are both two shy.

May 1st, 2015 at 2:55 pm

The fallacy of those saying that both Rafa and Nole have had tougher matches, including with each other like the 2012 AO, therefore neither could ever get injured in a shorter match? Obvious.
And Nole and Uncle Toni have noted that Madrid semi shaped the rest of 2009 for both, and into 2010 for Nole.
Djokovic had confidence issues emerge from having victory in is grasp, 3 match points when he was playing unbelievable, but still losing.
Uncle Toni said the match hobbled Rafa, sapped his nergy. Making Feds finals win on clay against him there relatively easy. Toni said it improved at Rome, but his knees worsened in the French Open. And all credit to Soderling, but weather, family troubles, and agony in the knees played a part. Wimbledon missed, USO hindered, and forced to retire with knee injury from the AO in 2010.

Roger’s 2009 resurgence stemmed from Madrid. Never had to face Rafa in his 3 Slam wins after that.

May 1st, 2015 at 3:20 pm

elina i agree with you about the calendar masters sweep being entirely implausible, and for all intents and purposes, undesirable too, as it could really tire out a player and hinder his/her performance in the slams, the most coveted titles. i would, however, love to see novak win cincy one of these years.

May 1st, 2015 at 9:16 pm

For Nole fans from the other forum, the kid is so cute and pronounce Djokovic much better than most commentators, have a look:

http://youtu.be/bpl-cAAUj3o

May 1st, 2015 at 10:09 pm

that’s sweet wog boy… ha ha. :)

May 1st, 2015 at 10:13 pm

Adorable kid! jane…WB

Also keeping my fingers crossed that Nole wins Cincinnati one of these years and…something else I won’t mention right now.

May 1st, 2015 at 10:52 pm

Novak’s withdrawal is a great blow to the tournament. I am not sure about the reason for his withdrawal ? May be, he wants to keep himself fresh before the more crucial Rolland Garros.

The prospect of a Roger Vs Rafa semi final is tantalizing. Wish that fructifies in the larger interest of the audience who wish to see these two great men play each other yet again.

May 2nd, 2015 at 9:30 am

For mat4’s eyes only…

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CEGAFvAWMAAE3II.jpg

Hmmmmm(ew)…

May 3rd, 2015 at 1:26 pm