Novak Djokovic withdraws from Miami Masters due to shoulder injury after tough run of tennis at Indian Wells
Updated 16/03/2026 at 08:01 GMT
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There will be no Novak Djokovic at the Miami Masters next week on account of a shoulder injury. The six-time winner of the title in Florida had a gruelling time of things at Indian Wells, where he eventually lost to Britain's Jack Draper, and he has been forced to withdraw from the prestigious ATP 1000 tournament. The Miami Masters gets underway on Wednesday.
Highlights: Medvedev stuns Alcaraz to deny first Sincaraz final of 2026
Video credit: SNTV
Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Miami Masters due to injury.
The six-time winner in Miami reported soreness in his right shoulder following his Indian Wells defeat to Jack Draper, and the Serbian has taken the decision to pull out of the ATP 1000 event.
The 38-year-old, who also played doubles in Indian Wells with Stefanos Tsitsipas, lost to Draper in the fourth round.
He was due to travel to Miami with the event getting underway on Wednesday, but will now be sidelined ahead of the season heading to Europe for the clay swing.
Djokovic had a testing workout in California, as all three of his matches went to three sets.
After beating Kamil Majchrzak and Aleksandar Kovacevic, Djokovic found Draper too tough.
"[I have] a bitter feeling right now, losing a match like this," Djokovic said in his post-match press conference. "But proud of myself for fighting and really giving it all on the court. That's for sure.
"That's the one thing that I'll take as a highlight. Just the fact of not giving up and trying. I lost to a great player, and it was really such an even match throughout the entire two-and-a-half hours. But I am just a bit disappointed.
"It was so close, so close. Just unfortunate, a few mistakes from my side."
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Draper was the defending champion at Indian Wells, but slipped to defeat to Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals.
Before that loss, the Briton left a positive impression on 24-time major champion, Djokovic.
"I don't think there is any major difference in his level from what he has shown pre-injury," Djokovic said of the British No. 1. "He's been playing at a great level.
"I have watched him a little bit, had some highlights in Dubai, where he has played a few matches. And here, obviously defending champion, he really likes the conditions, suiting his game, and you could see that.
"I mean, he's playing really well. He is confident and he was always confident and physically very fit. Just overall a great player, great guy. I wish him all the best."
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Video credit: SNTV
There has been no word from Djokovic’s camp on the severity of his injury. His likely next appearance on tour could be at the Monte-Carlo Masters in April.
Djokovic is a two-time winner of the event, albeit he has not tasted victory since 2015.
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz is the defending champion in Monte-Carlo.
There are further ATP 1000 events in Madrid and Rome before the stars of the sport head to Paris for the second major of the season at the French Open - live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
The French Open takes place at Roland Garros from May 24 to June 7. Alcaraz won the event last year, while Djokovic secured French Open glory in Paris in 2016, 2021 and 2023.
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Watch and stream the 2026 French Open live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
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