Former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the Italian Open amid a three-match losing streak and months of struggling with his form.

Novak Djokovic said he had to face up to his “new reality” after another opening-match loss, this time to world No. 44 Matteo Arnaldi at the Madrid Open. “Trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament,” Djokovic said in a news conference Saturday of his expectations going into events in 2025.

Novak Djokovic's absence from the Italian Open only deepens concerns over his form and fitness ahead of the French Open, as his recent slump raises questions about what lies ahead for the tennis icon.