Novak Djokovic, the defending champion and record-holder with seven ATP Finals titles, has withdrawn from this year’s event due to an “ongoing injury.”
Djokovic, 37, had qualified for the ATP Finals as the sixth-best player of the season, but he announced on social media that he would miss the tournament. “I was really looking forward to being there, but due to ongoing injury I won’t be playing next week. Apologies to those who were planning to see me. Wishing all the players a great tournament. See you soon,” he wrote.
The Serbian star, who holds a record 24 Grand Slam men’s singles titles, previously indicated that he is prioritising Grand Slam events as he extends his career, downplaying a focus on the ATP Finals or rankings. “I am not chasing ATP Finals, I am not chasing the rankings,” he said.
This announcement suggests that Djokovic’s next appearance will be at the Australian Open on January 12, where he will aim for a historic 25th Grand Slam title and his 100th tour-level trophy.
With Djokovic’s withdrawal, the ATP Finals lineup is set for the tournament in Turin, Italy, from November 10-17. Norway’s Casper Ruud, Australia’s Alex de Minaur, and Russia’s Andrey Rublev secure the final spots, joining Italy’s Jannik Sinner, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, Germany’s Alexander Zverev, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, and the United States’ Taylor Fritz.
This will mark the first time since 2001 that the ATP Finals won’t feature any of the “Big Three”—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, or Djokovic—reflecting a new era for the prestigious season-ending event.
Melissa Enoch
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