What does Novak Djokovic's Madrid Open 2024 withdrawal mean for Rafael Nadal?

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia has withdrawn from the ensuing Madrid Open. Jannik Sinner will now be the No. 1 seed at the tournament that gets underway on 26th April.

Djokovic last played in the tournament in 2022, when eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz beat him in a thrilling semifinal. However, Rafael Nadal, the Serb's arch-rival, is going to take part in it, maybe for the last time in his career.

At this stage of his career, the 36-year-old Serb is expected to target the Grand Slams only. He has a fine record at the Italian Open and will try to play himself into some form by playing in it ahead of the French Open.

Nadal should have his hands full at Madrid Open:

Djokovic’s withdrawal is unlikely to give Nadal much reprieve as the 37-year-old Spaniard will have to contend with a number of much younger players. Aside from Sinner, there will be Alcaraz, a two-time champion in Madrid.

There will also be Alexander Zverev a former champion there, who has got a fine record in the Spanish capital. There will also be Stefanos Tsitsipas, who won his third title in Monte Carlo last week.

Each of Alcaraz, Tsitsipas and Zverev has beaten Nadal at the Manolo Santana Stadium in Madrid in the past. Tsitsipas beat him in 2019, while Zverev beat him in 2021. Nadal beat Alcaraz at the Madrid Open in 2021 in their first-ever meeting, but the latter came up with a memorable win in the subsequent year.

Nadal, being an unseeded player, will have to deal with one of the top seeds in the initial rounds itself. However, if the Spaniard, who is a five-time champion in Madrid, is fully fit, he will remain a force to reckon with in the tournament to be played on clay.

Still, the Mallorcan should try to win as many matches as possible on his favorite surface in what looks like his last season on the Tour. He will, however, have to deal with the stiff challenges posed by his younger opponents. He will also have to guard against any potential recurrence of his injury, which could jeopardize his chances of taking part in the French Open.

Djokovic has beaten Nadal twice in the Madrid final:

With the court-speed in Madrid being slightly higher than what a clay court has to offer usually, Djokovic feels more at home there. Nadal has usually dominated the Serb on clay throughout his career, but the latter managed to beat him twice in the final of the Madrid Open (in 2009 and 2011).

The Spaniard, however, pulled one back by beating Djokovic in the semifinal in 2017 en route to winning his fifth title there. Hence, it will remain a pity that the two great men will not collide once again in Madrid this year