Djoko hits career crisis with Rome pullout

Novak Djokovic appears to be embroiled in a crisis of confidence after withdrawing from next week’s start at the Rome Masters.

The six-time trophy winner at the Foro Italico has not missed the Italian date since his 2007 debut.

The 37-year-old who celebrates a birthday in three weeks, has lost his last five matches and is nil-for-two on clay from Monte Carlo and Madrid defeats.

Djokovic has not won a title since the Paris Olympic last summer and is still chasing the all-time record of 25 Grand Slam titles and 100 Tour trophies.

He has now lost four of his last five opening matches.

Skipping Rome will likely doom any chances for the Serb to get match play before the May 25 start of Roland Garros. His last chance might be a wild card into either the Geneva 250 event or the Hamburg 500, both staged the week before the start of the major in Paris.