Novak Djokovic is on the entry list for the Miami Open next month, but there are no guarantees the world No 1 will play in Florida.
At the age of 36, Djokovic has confirmed he will be playing a trimmed-down schedule to ensure he peaks for the four Grand Slam tournaments each year.
Djokovic leads the all-time list for wins in the ATP 1000 events, which are the second tier event behind the majors in tennis and his record in that list looks unlikely to be surpassed any time soon.
He is also the undisputed leader when it comes to weeks at No 1 in the ATP rankings, with a lead of more than 100 weeks on his nearest rival Roger Federer.
So the focus for Djokovic from this point forward in his career is clear and that may impact the decision whether he plays in Miami or takes a break after Indian Wells.
Respected tennis commentator Nick Lester suggested to Tennis365 that he expected Djokovic to skip the Miami Open and believes he may also sit out the clay court Monte Carlo Masters in April as he limits his workload ahead of the French Open, with the world No 1 confirming he is not expecting to play a full schedule in the remaining years of his career.
“When you are going for number one rankings, you kind of have to be playing the entire season, but now the focus is the Slams,” said Djokovic.
“Of course, my greatest motivation is still love for the game. I really like competing. So as simple as that.
“Then, you know, I always have goals, you know, and to win another Slam, to be No. 1 again, to finish the year as No. 1. Those are let’s say the big goals.
“Of course then we have the Olympic Games this year. I really want to do well in Olympic Games and represent my country. Davis Cup is something that still gives me a lot of inspiration.
“I still feel young in my own body. It’s serving me well. I won three out of four slams. You know, there are obviously differences with different tennis players in the past that, you know, some of them think that it’s best to leave tennis when you’re at the top.
“Some of them think when you figure out you can’t win the biggest tournaments anymore and that you’re losing to the young guys, then you leave it. I’m more in the second group.”
Former British No 1 Laura Robson suggested Djokovic’s decision to enter Indian Wells and Miami is evidence that his passion for the game is burning brightly, which may be bad news for his rivals.
“There has been an overreaction to one defeat for Djokovic,” Robson told Tennis365 in an exclusive interview at the launch event for the new Sky Sports Tennis channel.
“He still got to the stage in Australia where he was challenging for the title and it’s not like he lost in the first or second round.
“He has won everything for so long and all of a sudden you have Alcaraz, Sinner and a few of these other players challenging him week-in, week-out.
“I’m very happy that he has entered Indian Wells and Miami, he is probably going to play a little more than he previously has.
“I know he has said he doesn’t enjoy being away from his family for too long, but if he is committing to playing Masters series events, it is a very good sign. It might not be a good sign for the other players that he is taking it very seriously still.
“Look at his record. That tells you that until he retires, he is the favourite for every tournament enters.”
Djokovic could withdraw from the Miami Open if he gets to the latter stages in Indian Wells, with the quick turnaround between the two marquee ATP 1000 events that kind of scenario he appears to be keen to avoid as he guards against burnout and injury at this stage of his career.
He has also stated that he does not enjoy being away from his wife and two young children for long periods and if he played at Indian Wells and Miami, he would be in America for most of March.
“Right now I have the motivation, I have the support of the close ones, which is also something that is probably underestimated and not maybe talked about a lot, but it’s a key, especially as a father,” adds Djokovic.
“Being absent from the children is not something that makes me very happy. It’s a balancing act between me and my wife and the close people in my life.
“So her being there for our children and everything, it allows me to be able to do what I love and still make some strides, significant strides, in this sport.”
