Novak Djokovic Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic withdraws from BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Sep 29, 2021 4:25 PM ET

The upcoming BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells set to start next week lost another big name.

Men's world No. 1 Novak Djokovic confirmed via Twitter on Wednesday that he won't play in the tournament scheduled to run from Oct. 4-17:

I am sorry I won’t get to see my fans in Indian Wells and play in the desert, my favourite place to go. I hope to see you next year! @BNPPARIBASOPEN
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) September 29, 2021

"We are disappointed that Novak will not be able to join us at the BNP Paribas Open this fall," tournament director Tommy Haas said via a statement shared by the ATP Staff. "We hope to see him back in Tennis Paradise next March to contend for a record-setting sixth title in the desert."

The tournament was postponed from March to October because of issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Djokovic is a five-time champion at Indian Wells and last won the event in 2016.

As noted by Sky Sports, fellow men's stars Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem also aren't competing. On the women's side, world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams are among the recognizable names who will be missing, but reigning U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu was awarded a wild-card entry that allows her to skip qualifying.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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