Oh, Laura Robson, once a whirlwind on the WTA circuit and now a keen tennis analyst, dropped a bit of a bombshell. She reckons Novak Djokovic’s Miami Open no-show? Yeah, it might have something to do with his kiddos.
The man’s a 24-time major champ, for crying out loud. He jetted over to the States, all pumped for what we thought was the Sunshine Doubles. Djokovic, the Serbian powerhouse, landed early. Wanted to get a good feel for the place, y’know? It’s been a hot minute—five years, to be exact—since he last played there.
But, oh boy, did things take a turn. Luca Nardi? Yeah, he handed Djokovic a shocker at Indian Wells. And just like that, Djokovic’s out of the Miami Open. Can’t say we all didn’t see it coming, though.
Fans were buzzing, thinking this might happen after the Indian Wells fiasco. Djokovic’s fit as a fiddle, so no injury drama. But, he’s probably itching to get back to Europe. Clay season’s knocking on the door, after all.
Laura Robson, chatting with Sky Sports, hinted at something more personal. Djokovic, missing his family? Could be a big reason he’s bowing out.
“Yeah I feel like when you’re away from your kids so often, he just misses them so much. Whether that’s the reason, I’m not totally sure. Really could be anything because it’s not that specific, but he spoke about it a lot in Australia that he misses them when he’s away, that it’s a huge sacrifice for him not to be there.” That’s Robson, laying it out there.
Djokovic’s fam? They’re often chilling in Spain. He’s got a new base there, and his bro’s been living it up in Spain for a while. Being close to his fast-growing kids is a big plus. His son’s even swinging a racquet now.
Robson believes Djokovic, not feeling up to snuff, made the best call. Withdraw. Spend quality time with the fam.
“And he wants them to see him play tennis, for sure, but equally, the moments at home are just as important to him. And he’s won everything, so, do you really need to win another Miami Open? Do you need to even play that week if you’re not feeling 100% about it? No.” That’s the word, straight from Robson.
Takeaways
‣ Laura Robson suggested Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal from the Miami Open could be tied to his desire to spend more time with his kids, highlighting the sacrifices involved in being away from family.
‣ Djokovic’s early exit from the Indian Wells tournament and subsequent decision to skip the Miami Open were not entirely surprising, given his recent performance and the upcoming clay season.
‣ Family considerations, especially wanting to be closer to his children who are growing up in Spain, played a significant role in Djokovic’s decision to withdraw from the tournament, as per Laura Robson’s insights.