Novak Djokovic - Belgrade instead of title defense in Madrid?
Novak Djokovic will apparently not take part in the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid in 2021. The reason for this is said to be a changed tournament calendar, which provides for a start at the ATP 250 event "Belgrade 2".
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Apr 27, 2021, 11:48 pm
"I don't know," said Novak Djokovic after his semi-final defeat in Belgrade with regard to participation in the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid. Now the world number one has apparently decided: According to a report by the Spanish sports newspaper Marca , the 33-year-old will not appear in the Caja Magica this year.
The reason for this should be the changed tournament schedule of the Serb. While Djokovic had paused for a week before the French Open in recent years after the events in Madrid and Rome, this year he wants to play at his home tournament in Belgrade immediately before the second Grand Slam tournament of the year.
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Djokovic can be found on the entry list of the "Belgrade 2" clay court tournament. But as the industry leader had indicated at the first edition last week, the start is anything but set in stone in view of the French Open, which is so important for him.
On the other hand, the waiver of the tournament in Madrid is apparently set in stone. In 2019 Djokovic won in the Spanish capital, but the organizers around tournament director Feliciano Lopez can look forward to a great field of participants despite the defending champion's cancellation. Rafael Nadal is now top seed, followed by Daniil Medvedev and Dominic Thiem .