Novak Djokovic and Emma Raducanu Headline 20 Withdrawals Ahead of 2026 Miami Open

The 2026 Miami Open faces 20 player withdrawals, including Novak Djokovic and Emma Raducanu, as the tournament begins at Hard Rock Stadium.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 8:14 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Tennis365

High Profile Absences Impact Both Singles Draws

On the eve of the 2026 Miami Open, the tournament has been hit by a wave of late cancellations, bringing the total number of withdrawals to 20 across the ATP and WTA fields. The most significant blow to the men’s draw came on Sunday when five time champion Novak Djokovic officially pulled out. Djokovic, a 24 time Grand Slam winner who reached the final in Miami last year, cited a shoulder injury as the reason for his absence. On the women’s side, Emma Raducanu became the highest ranked player to withdraw following the Sunday draw, leaving fans without two of the sport's biggest stars as main draw action begins.

WTA Field Thinned by Illness and Pre Draw Exits

The women’s singles event has seen 13 players withdraw, significantly affecting the seeded positions. Raducanu, currently world No. 23, was forced out due to a sudden illness, a move that is expected to impact her ranking following a challenging early exit at Indian Wells. Other notable seeds who will miss the South Florida tournament include Emma Navarro and Maya Joint. Additionally, a strong contingent of Czech talent is missing from the lineup, as Marketa Vondrousova, Barbora Krejcikova, and Karolina Pliskova all ruled themselves out prior to the draw being finalized. These vacancies have opened the door for several lucky losers and alternates to enter the 96 player field.

ATP Withdrawals and Key Replacements

While the men’s draw has seen fewer total withdrawals than the women’s, the quality of the missing players remains high. Alongside Djokovic, world No. 28 Holger Rune and Tallon Griekspoor had already withdrawn before the tournament began, having also missed the preceding event in Indian Wells. The most recent ATP player to pull out is Juan Manuel Cerundolo, who withdrew after the draw was made. To maintain the integrity of the brackets, Jacob Fearnley has stepped in to replace Djokovic, while James Duckworth and Alexander Shevchenko have also moved into the main draw to fill the spots left by the departing seeds.