Djokovic Withdraws from Madrid

[jimlosaltos]

This was announced by the tournament, with no word from Djokovic or his camp so far.

He had complained of an unspecified elbow problem after losing early for the second clay event in a row. But Djokovic also complained of low energy and lethargy.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/djokovic-madrid-2023-withdrawal

[stotty]

He's playing rope-a-dope. Usually it's on the court but now he's rope-a-doping off the court as well. I am reading nothing into his two recent clay court losses nor his Madrid withdrawal. He's done this numerous times before and it usually ends up with him winning a slam.

[stroke]

He's playing rope-a-dope. Usually it's on the court but now he's rope-a-doping off the court as well. I am reading nothing into his two recent clay court losses nor his Madrid withdrawal. He's done this numerous times before and it usually ends up with him winning a slam.

No doubt he is the greatest rope-a-doper of all time, and probably the most impressive resume ever. Fed and Nadal never let a set, much less a match, go, but Novak has always been able to do that with no problem at all, just compartmentalize the business portion of matches he wants to truly win. Just amazing stuff, probably never to be seen again. If he can rope-a-dope the now favorite at RG, Alcaraz, well, way too good.