Novak Djokovic's shock withdrawal from next week's Italian Open should be a huge worry for the 24-times Grand Slam champion's fans as he heads to the French Open without winning a match on clay this season,

In a setback to his French Open preparations, Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the Rome Masters. The six-time champion, who suffered an early exit in Madrid last week, will miss the Italian Open for the first time since 2007.

Novak Djokovic made his debut at the Rome Open in 2007 and, from that point on, maintained an impressive streak of 18 consecutive appearances through 2024. This year’s absence marks the first time the Serbian star will miss the tournament in the Italian capital.