Kamal Ghorui
Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the 2026 Miami Open just days before the tournament, and it has raised fresh questions about his form and fitness. The 38-year-old Serbian star cited a shoulder issue, but the timing of the decision has caught attention, especially with the clay season coming up next.What made this bigger was Martina Navratilova’s reaction. The former World No. 1 did not question his talent, but she did point out something important. In her view, Djokovic is not playing enough matches right now, and that could affect him when the biggest tournaments arrive.
Martina Navratilova says Novak Djokovic needs more matches after Miami Open withdrawal raises fitness concerns
Martina Navratilova shared her thoughts openly while speaking about Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal. She made it clear that staying match-ready is just as important as staying fit.“We haven’t noticed anything wrong with his shoulder here, but the balls and everything else are heavier in Miami, so who knows? Hopefully, he’ll be fine and we’ll see him back soon,” she said.She then added a more direct point about his schedule. “I think he needs to play more matches before the big tournaments. I think he’s been so withdrawn that, even though he’s as solid as he is, I feel he needs a few more matches to be at his best.”Djokovic has been selective with his schedule this year. So far, he has played nine matches and won seven of them. He began his season at the Australian Open and looked sharp early on, reaching the fourth round without dropping a set.From there, things became a bit unusual. He moved into the quarterfinals after Jakub Mensik pulled out due to injury. In the next match, he was struggling against Lorenzo Musetti and was two sets down. But the match turned when Musetti retired injured in the third set, sending Djokovic into the semifinals.He then faced Jannik Sinner and managed to beat him, marking his first win over Sinner since 2023. That result gave fans hope, but in the final, he lost to Carlos Alcaraz.After that run, Djokovic played at Indian Wells. He won against Kamil Majchrzak and Aleksandar Kovacevic to reach the fourth round. However, he was stopped by Jack Draper in a close Round of 16 match.His Miami Open withdrawal now adds more uncertainty. Along with him, players like Emma Raducanu, Emma Navarro, and Barbora Krejcikova have also pulled out of the event. Jacob Fearnley has taken Djokovic’s place in the draw.Looking ahead, Djokovic is expected to return at the Monte Carlo Masters, a tournament he has won twice before. For now, the focus remains on his fitness and whether he can build enough match rhythm before the next Grand Slam.
