A troubling pattern is gripping tennis, as withdrawals continue to disrupt major events and unsettle fans. The Miami Open saw seven players pull out before a ball was struck, and now the crisis spills into the Monte Carlo Masters. With Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz among the latest absentees, the clay season begins under a cloud of uncertainty.

1. Jack Draper

Draper is among the latest players to withdraw from the clay-court event. He continues to manage an arm injury that has troubled him since last year. After missing the latter stages of 2025 and the start of 2026, he returned to action in Dubai, Indian Wells, and Miami, but has now chosen to rest again. He will skip Monte Carlo to fully recover, with Daniel Altmaier stepping in as his replacement.

2. Novak Djokovic

Djokovic is a major absence from the tournament. Organizers confirmed earlier that the two-time champion will not play in the 2026 edition. While not entirely unexpected after he skipped the Miami Open, it remains a rare moment in his career. 

It will be the first time since 2011 that he is not in the Monte Carlo main draw, having only missed that one edition since his 2007 debut. He was expected to be seeded fourth, and his place has been taken by Sebastian Baez.

3. Taylor Fritz

Fritz has also withdrawn from the tournament. He was set to be seeded eighth based on his ranking. He has been dealing with a knee injury for several months and has decided to step away to “get it healed 100 percent”. His position in the draw will now be filled by Terence Atmane, offering the Frenchman a valuable opportunity at the Masters level.

4. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Davidovich Fokina has pulled out as well, marking a setback after his strong run to the semifinals last year. His absence will affect his ranking significantly, as he is expected to drop out of the top 20 once the tournament concludes.

5. Jaume Munar

Munar is another player missing from the event. He has not recovered in time from a right arm injury that has troubled him since February. The world No. 37 has not competed since his quarterfinal loss to Alexander Bublik in Rotterdam.

6. Sebastian Korda

Korda’s withdrawal adds further to the growing list. He is currently dealing with a back injury. The American recently impressed at the Miami Open, where he defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the third round. His place in the draw will be taken by Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, reshaping part of the field.

Despite these withdrawals, the tournament will still feature seven of the top 10 players in the ATP rankings. The overall level of competition remains strong. Alcaraz enters as the defending champion and top seed, leading a highly competitive field.

Among all the withdrawals, Draper stands to lose the most ranking points. He will drop 100 points after reaching the round of 16 last year. Djokovic and Korda will each lose only 10 points as they exited early in 2025, while Fritz will not drop any points since he did not play in Monte Carlo last year.

As the list of withdrawals continues to grow, concerns are increasing around the tournament. However, there is still optimism that Djokovic may return for the next Masters event following Monte Carlo.

Feliciano López reveals Novak Djokovic’s Madrid Open participation plans

Novak Djokovic will turn 39 in a few weeks. As he has grown older, he has become more selective with his schedule. Despite this, there is growing optimism about his return. The Madrid Open director believes he could play next month.

Former ATP player Feliciano López now leads the tournament. He shares this role with Garbiñe Muguruza, a former WTA No. 1. Lopez recently shared an important update about Djokovic’s plans. He revealed that the Serbian star is interested in returning to Madrid.

“He’s keen to come to Madrid, that’s what I’ve been told. Obviously, we know Djokovic’s schedule lately is what it is. He has the ability to play very little and still be fighting for the big titles at almost 40 years old,” he said.

Lopez also explained Djokovic’s priorities for the clay season. “What I think is that he’s keen to come to Madrid, so it’s one of his priorities of the clay court season, obviously after Roland Garros.”

He also urged caution regarding Djokovic’s schedule. “We have to be very respectful of this because he plays so infrequently and chooses his tournaments so specifically and precisely… We have to be cautious, but if everything goes well, we’ll have Djokovic in Madrid too.”

Djokovic has enjoyed great success in Madrid in the past. He has won the tournament six times, with his last title coming in 2019.

However, his recent appearances have been limited. He played in 2022 and lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals, while last year he exited early against Matteo Arnaldi, but signs now point to his long-awaited return to begin the clay season.