“You have to be very respectful”: Feliciano López asked for caution about Djokovic’s presence at the Madrid Open

After only playing the Australian Open and Indian Wells during the current season, the presence of the Serbian Novak Djokovic (4th) in the next events of the men’s circuit is a mystery, even more so after withdrawing from the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 due to discomfort in his right shoulder.

However, the legendary Balkan, 38 years old and recent finalist in the first Grand Slam on the calendar, still has that inner fire to continue competing at the highest level and figure registered in the entry list at the Madrid Openwhich will be held from April 20 to May 3, will feature the Norwegian Casper Ruud (12th) as defending champion and will serve as preparation for Roland Garros, the culminating event of the European tour on clay.

Asked about this in dialogue with Radiogaceta de los Deportes on Spanish National Radio, the one who confessed intimacies and asked for restraint was the Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, director of his country’s competition since 2019, who also took the opportunity to reveal his desire to host a definition between the local Carlos Alcaraz (1st) and the Italian Jannik Sinner (2nd) in the near future.

“You want to come to Madridso they have let me know. Obviously, we know Djokovic’s schedule is what it is lately. He has the ability to play very little and still be fighting for big titles at almost 40 years old. What I believe is that he wants to come to Madrid, so in the dirt tour is one of his prioritiesobviously after Roland Garros,” said the former number 12 in the ATP world ranking, retired in June 2023, about the real intentions of the three-time champion of the capital event (2011, 2016 and 2019).

On the other hand, the owner of seven titles in the Tourfour on grass, raised his voice to request calm due to the issue in question, considering that Djokovic, quickly eliminated in 2025, only attended two of the last five editions at the Caja Mágica: “You have to be very respectful with this because he plays so little, and chooses his tournaments in such a concrete and precise way. We have to be cautious but if everything goes well we will also have Djokovic in Madrid“.

All Madrid Open activity can be followed LIVE on Disney+ Premium Plan.