“Rome, I will miss you. I hope we meet next year,” said Novak Djokovic, confirming his withdrawal from the Italian Open.  The six-time champion won’t return to the event for the first time since 2007, breaking a 17-year streak in the Eternal City. Djokovic’s most recent triumph in Rome came in 2022. This time, though, he’s sitting out as his form continues to be a cause for concern and conversation. His recent slump has drawn a striking reaction from Serena Williams’ former coach.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion’s last victory was on March 28. It came in the semifinals of the Miami Open. Since then, Djokovic has posted a 12-7 win-loss record in 2025. For a player used to racking up wins, that’s a worrying dip. And his clay-court season? A complete blank so far. In Monte Carlo, he was the No. 3 seed but crashed out in his opening match to Alejandro Tabilo, 6-3, 6-4. Madrid wasn’t kinder. Seeded fourth, Djokovic had a first-round bye but lost his first match again, this time to Matteo Arnaldi, with the same scoreline: 6-3, 6-4.

Even Djokovic himself isn’t shying away from admitting things are different now. “Kind of new reality,” he called it. And it’s this “new reality” that has experts weighing in, including Rennae Stubbs, who recently placed Djokovic on her “Worry Index,” a list tracking players whose form is sparking concern.

Meanwhile, Patrick Mouratoglou, former coach of Serena Williams, had more to say. In an Instagram video, he laid it all out and said, “I was very surprised to see Novak Djokovic play like that in Monte Carlo and then again in Madrid. For a guy like him, if he doesn’t feel like playing, if he doesn’t have the motivation, I don’t think he should play because he didn’t even look like he was trying to win. I am not saying he’s not able to play better. He is for sure able to play much better, but I felt like he was not prepared physically. I mean, tennis-wise, physically for this tournament, because he doesn’t have the motivation. No judgment there.” 

He further continued, “But the question is, why did he play then? I don’t understand. Motivation is a big thing for him. It’s all about it. I have been saying that for quite a long time. After his great season (2023) and then last season that was far from his level, except for the Olympic Games. That was obvious that he needs one target to really get his focus and motivation. The real question is, can he manage to play matches and get ready for such a big event as the Grand Slam? Nothing replaces matches, of course, he doesn’t need to play a lot. But he needs to play a few that he’s going to win with the right mindset, and to think I am going to go to the Grand Slam and suddenly everything is going to click is quite a bet. I have questions.”

Djokovic isn’t brushing anything under the rug. He’s openly said his tennis has been patchy. But the 37-year-old has also made one thing clear: he and his team, including coach Andy Murray, are focused on the Grand Slams—Roland Garros and Wimbledon are still the main targets. There was a moment when fans thought retirement might be on the cards. After his Madrid exit, Djokovic gave a cryptic response suggesting it might have been his last time playing there. That set off alarm bells. But it seems the former World No.1 is still hungry for more.

Novak Djokovic rubbishes retirement talk with a bold reply

Novak Djokovic has never been one to quit easily. He’s already had four first-match defeats in 2025 alone, an unusually high number for someone known for dominance. Still, during the Miami Open, he insisted, “I still have it in my legs, in my hands, in my arms,” and said he was ready to battle the younger generation at the “highest level.”

But even the 24-time Grand Slam champ admits that the mental side has become more of a challenge lately. After losing to Arnaldi in Madrid, he reflected on how things have shifted. In a March interview, he also said that he sometimes feels “unmotivated” and “less inspired” to travel and compete.

So, is retirement really near? Not just yet. In an interview with Business Traveler USA, Djokovic put it this way: “Tennis is a sport where it’s necessary to nurture that mentality of, it’s never enough. Because once it’s enough, then it’s really enough, and you have to put the racket aside. And I still….I still don’t feel it’s enough for me.”

Now, eyes turn to Roland Garros. Novak Djokovic is a three-time champion in Paris and has made a habit of proving people wrong. But with form dipping and questions mounting, will he find his groove when it matters most? What do you think?