Jim Courier concerned over Novak Djokovic's strange decision to withdraw from the Rome Open - "It is worrying for me as a Novak fan"

After his abrupt withdrawal from the upcoming Rome Open, Novak Djokovic has left many fans and pundits confused at his actions, including retired American tennis pro Jim Courier.

Djokovic has only played two matches on clay this season, at the Monte-Carlo Masters and the Madrid Open. The Serbian suffered opening round losses at both events, with his most recent being a straight set loss to Italian Matteo Arnaldi in Madrid on Saturday.

The former player-turned-pundit was just as shocked as everyone else when Djokovic announced his withdrawal from the Rome Open. With Roland Garros around the corner, Courier remains perplexed as to why the Serbian would choose not to compete in Rome as he prepares for the Parisian Grand Slam.

"That is troubling," admitted Courier in an appearance on The Tennis Channel Live. "It is worrying for me as a Novak fan. It’s worrying because it’s the best place to get ready for Roland Garros. The conditions are very similar, it’s back at sea level.
"If you are going to play one between Madrid and Rome, Rome would be the one that you want to play to get ready for Roland Garros. I don’t know what to make of it, but I don’t like the way it feels in the gut.
“Definitely concerned. It’s a very strange thing to announce, pull out now, well in advance of it and we will see what it all means when we get to Roland Garros."

Djokovic is a six-time champion in Rome, with his last title coming at the 2022 edition. Additionally, the 37-year old has finished runner-up on six different occasions.