The World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has decided to opt out of the upcoming Mutua Madrid Open 2021, which begins this week. Djokovic has decided not to play in the ATP Masters 1000 event, the organisers have confirmed on Wednesday.

Djokovic is hopeful that he will be back in Madrid next year.

“Sorry that I won’t be able to travel to Madrid this year and meet all my fans,” Djokovic said in a message shared by the Madrid Open organisers on Twitter. “It’s been two years already, quite a long time. Hope to see you all next year!”.

Meanwhile, Djokovic was last seen in action in the Serbia Open last week. The talisman lost in the semi-finals of the tournament against Russia’s Aslan Karatsev.

On the other hand, Djokovic is the defending champion of the Mutua Madrid Open. Djokovic had defeated Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas by 6-3, 6-4 in 2019. However, the event was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Djokovic is now expected to play at next month’s Rome Masters and Belgrade Open in the lead up to the clay court major in Paris, which begins on May 30.

Meanwhile, after breaking Roger Federer’s record of spending most weeks at the number one ranking, Djokovic had stated that his focus will be on major slam titles. Djokovic has a healthy lead over the second-placed Daniil Medvedev in the ATP rankings.

The Serbian had won his 18 slam title after he defeated Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in straight sets in the final of the Australian Open.

Since then, Djokovic has played in a handful of ATP events and his focus will be to go all the way in the French Open.

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal is seeded as number one for the Madrid Open and he will be one of the favourites after winning his 12th Barcelona Open.