"Watch out Rory McIlroy" quips Novak Djokovic after swapping clay court preparation for golf course

Novak Djokovic shared photos of himself playing golf and tagged professional golfer Rory McIlroy, one of the golfers who has spent the most weeks as Number 1. The 24-times Grand Slam champion has commented several times on his passion for golf and even played in the prelude to the Ryder Cup last year, showcasing his skills as part of a celebrity team.

Djokovic, who began the clay swing at the Monte-Carlo Masters, is taking a break as he prepares to participate in the upcoming Masters 1000 Madrid Open, where he will be the first seed. The Serbian has not yet found his best form, and given his limited tournament schedule, this time he took the opportunity to play golf and share images with fans.

Novak Djokovic (No. 1) was eliminated in the semi-finals of the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 by Casper Ruud (10th) with a score of 6-4, 1-6, and 6-4. Previously, he had secured consecutive victories over Roman Safiulin, Lorenzo Musetti, and Alex De Minaur, marking his best performance in Monaco since winning the title in 2015.

The Serbian has not had a great season so far; he was eliminated in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, and in Indian Wells, he only reached the round of 32. With only three tournaments played and no access to finals so far this season, Djokovic ranks 9th in the ATP Race with 1,310 points, far behind Jannik Sinner, who leads with 4,300 points.