In a turn of events that has shaken the tennis world just days before the Roland Garros Grand Slam, Novak Djokovic’s shocking withdrawal from the 2025 Italian Open in Rome has taken on a whole new meaning—thanks to an unintentional revelation made by his wife, Jelena Djokovic.

Fans were initially stunned earlier this week when the world No. 1 announced his decision to skip the prestigious Rome Masters, a tournament he has won six times and historically used as a critical warm-up for the French Open. While the official statement cited “fatigue and recovery,” many suspected there was more behind the move.

And now, it seems they were right.

Jelena’s Accidental Revelation Sparks Frenzy

On Wednesday afternoon, Jelena Djokovic posted a seemingly innocent Instagram story showing the family enjoying a peaceful getaway in the south of France. But what caught eagle-eyed fans off guard was the background conversation—picked up faintly in the video—between Novak and his coach Goran Ivanišević.

In the clip, which was quickly screen-recorded and shared across social media, Novak is heard saying, “This was always the plan, skip Rome, save the legs… focus everything on Paris.” Goran responds, “We agreed—no more risking it with back-to-backs before Grand Slams.”

The video was deleted within 30 minutes, but not before it went viral.

A Strategic Withdrawal?

Tennis analysts now suggest that Djokovic’s decision to withdraw from Rome wasn’t due to any sudden fatigue—but rather a calculated move to preserve his energy and avoid any chance of injury ahead of his bid to win a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.

“He’s thinking long-term now. At 37, Novak is managing his schedule like a chess master. Rome is important, but Paris is legendary,” said ESPN tennis analyst Patrick McEnroe. “He wants that trophy more than anything this year.”

Indeed, with Rafael Nadal expected to retire after this season and Carlos Alcaraz rising as a serious threat, Djokovic is reportedly determined to secure another title on the red clay and reassert his dominance.

Fans Divided Over the “Secret Plan”

The online reaction has been explosive. While many fans praised Djokovic for being “smart and strategic,” others felt disappointed by the secrecy and what some called “disrespect to the Rome tournament and fans.”

One Italian fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter):

“We bought tickets hoping to see Novak. If this was planned, he should have been honest about it from the start.”

Meanwhile, Serbian fans and supporters worldwide applauded the decision.

“This is what champions do. Focus, precision, no unnecessary risks. Paris is where legends are made,” another comment read.

Jelena Responds

Shortly after the video went viral, Jelena Djokovic issued a brief statement on her X account:

“I apologize for the confusion. The clip wasn’t meant to share private strategy conversations. We are all human. Thank you for understanding.”

The message has since received over 40,000 likes, and many fans have come to her defense, calling it a “harmless mistake.”

What’s Next for Djokovic?

Novak is now in full preparation mode for the 2025 Roland Garros, where he’s looking to win the tournament for the fourth time. With no recent match play since Madrid, there are questions about whether the lack of competition could work against him—or be the very edge he needs.

Whatever the outcome, one thing is clear: Djokovic has all eyes on Paris, and thanks to an unexpected slip-up, so does the rest of the tennis world.