Miami Open, FL 2026 - ATP Masters 1000

[Moxie]

But don't you think if Novak was anywhere close to healthy/able to play, he would have given it a go at Miami?

This move tells me that Novak is saving himself for Wimbledon, and we will likely see him next at Halle or Queens.

Why push for one more HC tournament before clay and grass? I'm with @Fiero425 ... Novak has every reason to rest the arm/shoulder and forget about Miami. What the hell is he playing for in Miami?

I don't know that that means he skips the entire clay season, though he might. Clay is a lot of wear and tear on the body, when he may consider grass his next best chance for a Major.

 

[Fiero425]

Why push for one more HC tournament before clay and grass? I'm with @Fiero425 ... Novak has every reason to rest the arm/shoulder and forget about Miami. What the hell is he playing for in Miami?

I don't know that that means he skips the entire clay season, though he might. Clay is a lot of wear and tear on the body, when he may consider grass his next best chance for a Major.

Djokovic still needs the work! Even though he's had some good results "pulling back" on his schedule, he does look rusty early on & needs to avoid the top players until the QF! Remember how he got to that AO Final; down 2 sets to Musetti B4 his retiring, then Draper WD in R16! Novak would have been heading home the 1st week if not for those fortuitous events! You see how Draper handled him in IW's after returning from injury! He literally outhustled Novak making him hit 1 more ball! That wasn't an upset as much as expected by me! Djokovic got ahead surprisingly, but it didn't last! Before the FO, only winning Monte Carlo benefits his record giving him a 3rd Golden Masters! He's skipping it!

 

[Moxie]

Djokovic still needs the work! Even though he's had some good results "pulling back" on his schedule, he does look rusty early on & needs to avoid the top players until the QF! Remember how he got to that AO Final; down 2 sets to Musetti B4 his retiring, then Draper WD in R16! Novak would have been heading home the 1st week if not for those fortuitous events! You see how Draper handled him in IW's after returning from injury! He literally outhustled Novak making him hit 1 more ball! That wasn't an upset as much as expected by me! Djokovic got ahead surprisingly, but it didn't last! Before the FO, only winning Monte Carlo benefits his record giving him a 3rd Golden Masters! He's skipping it!

So, let's face it: he doesn't need the work, he needs luck, at this stage in his late career. And even so, it hasn't been enough. You just said it. So better to rest, and hope for the luck.

PS: There is no such thing as a Golden Masters. That's invented, so he will not be caring about that fake stat. If Novak is skipping Monte Carlo, I wonder if he's skipping the clay season.